Puntland’s Ministry of Education has released the results of local high school exams, which over 16,000 students sat for.
The education ministry released the results on Tuesday.
In the results, Mariam Abdikarim Ahmed emerged the top student in Somalia’s semiautonomous state of Puntland with 98.86 points.
Mariam’s marks are the highest by any high school student in the history of Puntland.
Karkaar’s Mohamoud Abdisalam Mohamed came in second with 98.04 points behind Nugaal’s Mariam.
Bari’s top student, Abdirasak Mohamed Yusuf, was third with 98.00 points while Mudug’s Ali Abdi finished fourth with 97.71 points.
Closing the top five positions was Aisha Aldahir Mohamud from Mudug who recorded 97.51 points in the exams.
The exams were marred with controversy after Somalia’s Ministry of Education said it would not recognize Puntland’s system, which is different from what the rest of the country uses.
Puntland’s authorities said they would continue with their own exams. UNICEF finances the state’s education system.
Nevertheless, all is not well since Abdullahi Godah Bare, Somalia’s education minister, has promised not to recognize the final certificates Puntland issues to its high school students.