Central Data Catalog

The Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) has been administered annually since 1967. From 2017 onwards, it has been administered by the Botswana Examinations Council to grade 10 (ISCED 2) students in general education programmes in public and private schools.

The JCE is a high-stake and mandatory examination that certifies completion of lower secondary education. It is a requirement for students wishing to pursue upper secondary education (ISCED 3).

Passing the JCE allows reintegration of out-of-school children and youth into the school system at the next appropriate grade.

The JCE is a written examination, administered face-to-face and delivered through paper-pencil tests. All test-takers are presented with the same cognitive booklets or tests, which are aligned with the national curriculum.

The JCE serves the following purposes:

- student certification for completion of lower secondary education

- student selection to higher education programmes or admission into specific courses or tracks

- designing individualised instructional plans

- supporting teachers (training, relevant materials, etc.)

- school or educator accountability

- sub-national level monitoring of learning outcomes

- monitoring education quality levels

- planning education policy reforms

- diagnosing student abilities

The JCE accommodates students with special needs, by providing the following arrangements:

- Hearing impairment: sign language; interpretation of questions; modification of language on papers; additional time

- Physical disability: accommodating facilities; rest breaks; additional time

- Emotional disturbance: use of prompters; separate rooms

- Visual impairment: braille; large font; additional time

- Speech language impairment: provision of readers; provision of scribes

- Environmental effect: preferential seats (e.g. students with albinism are not seated directly in direct sunlight)

Census (all students at the given grades or ages)

Results are reported at the student, school, sub-national and national levels. Data are disaggregated by sex, geographic location (urban and rural), major cities and type of school (public and private).

Results are published in reports, which are available in print and online. A database is also accessible online.