Urban–rural divide persists in 2025 JC exam results – BOSETU

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday February 4, 2026 09:24

Reacting to the results, BOSETU Secretary-General Tobokani Rari noted a significant increase in the number of high-performing candidates. He said merit candidates rose from 16 in the 2024 examinations to 43 in 2025.

“We also need to note an increase in the number of candidates who obtained Grade A. In 2024, there were 617; this year, the number has increased to 898. Similarly, those who obtained Grade B increased from 4,800 last year to 5,336 this year,” Rari said.

He said the improvements in Merit, A and B grades were commendable and reflected the commitment and hard work of both teachers and learners, despite what he described as difficult and often deplorable working conditions teachers face daily.

“These results show that teachers and students have put in a very good effort under challenging circumstances,” he said.

However, Rari cautioned that the gains were largely concentrated in urban schools, raising concerns about equity within the education system.

“These improvements are predominantly realised by students in schools situated in urban areas. These are mainly children from middle-income families who are economically advantaged,” he said.

He argued that the trend highlighted persistent inequalities in the education system, which continue to favour the 'haves' whilst leaving behind learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Our education system still propels the haves over the have-nots, and it is not doing enough to lift those at the bottom out of that bracket,” Rari said.

BOSETU also expressed alarm over an increase in the number of candidates who obtained Grade E and those who were Ungraded in the 2025 examinations. Rari said the proportion of candidates with grade E increased by 0.30 percent, whilst ungraded candidates rose by 1.80 percent, resulting in a combined increase of 2.10 percent.

“This is very disturbing, very, very disturbing,” he said.

According to Rari, approximately 18,000 candidates can be classified as having failed the 2025 examinations, having obtained either Grade E or Ungraded results. He said this group accounts for about 27% of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination.

“These are students who have failed and may end up joining the streets,” he said.

Rari further revealed that the majority of these failing candidates were from rural schools, citing particularly low pass rates in some regions.

“When you look at schools in Gantsi, Kgalagadi North, Kgalagadi South and Chobe, you find pass rates hanging around 30%, 32%, and 35%,” he said.

He added that the statistics clearly showed that most of the students who failed the 2025 JCE were from rural areas, a situation he said should prompt urgent intervention.

“This still tells us a very big story about inequality in our education system,” Rari said.