By: Precious Miracle Kargbo Snr
More than 166,000 primary school pupils across Sierra Leone on Saturday, 9 May 2026, began the 2026 National Primary School Examination (NPSE), marking an important milestone in their academic journey.
According to official figures, a total of 166,839 candidates are sitting the examination nationwide, including 79,862 boys and 86,977 girls. The number of girls exceeds that of boys by 7,115, a development education stakeholders say reflects continued progress in school enrolment and retention, particularly among girls.
The NPSE is Sierra Leone’s main transition examination from primary to junior secondary school and serves as a foundation for pupils’ future academic development. For many candidates, it is the first public examination they have undertaken.
Scenes at examination centres across the country were calm but emotional as parents gathered outside school compounds while teachers checked attendance registers and offered encouragement to pupils before the start of the exams. Inside the halls, invigilators opened sealed examination papers as candidates prepared for the first session.
Education authorities renewed calls for discipline, integrity, and honesty throughout the examination period. Pupils were encouraged to rely on their preparation, while supervisors and invigilators were reminded to strictly enforce examination regulations.
Security personnel were also deployed to examination centres to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.
Stakeholders in the education sector described the large number of candidates as evidence of continued improvements in access to education. They noted that community support, government policies, and school feeding programmes have contributed significantly to keeping children, especially girls, in school through the primary level.
Authorities confirmed that logistical arrangements, including seating, timing, and the distribution of examination materials, were completed ahead of the examinations to ensure fairness and equal conditions for all candidates.
The NPSE assesses pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills acquired over six years of primary education. The results will determine placement into junior secondary schools and help shape the academic future of thousands of pupils nationwide.
From Freetown to Falaba and other parts of the country, the examination represents a significant moment for pupils, parents, teachers, and the nation, highlighting Sierra Leone’s continued investment in education and human capital development.