Over 17,900 Students Pass South West State’s Grade 8 Examinations

BAIDOA — The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education of the South West State has officially announced the results of the Grade 8 certificate examinations for the 2025/2026 academic year, revealing a high pass rate across the region.

According to the official results, a total of 18,103 students sat for the examinations, comprising both boys and girls. Of these, 17,916 students successfully passed, representing a 99% pass rate. Among those who passed, 10,407 were boys and 7,509 were girls.

A total of 187 students failed the examination, consisting of 119 boys and 68 girls, accounting for approximately 1% of the total candidates. The Ministry also reported that 1,685 students were absent from the Grade 8 certificate examinations for the 2025/2026 academic year.

These results demonstrate a strong performance by Grade 8 students in South West State, with the vast majority of candidates successfully advancing to the next level of education.

The announcement follows similar results from other administrations in the region. In August 2026, over 44,000 students passed the Grade 8 exams in Mogadishu, with a pass rate of approximately 96.8 percent and girls accounting for 45.47 percent of successful candidates. The top position in the Banadir regional exams was secured by Sumayo Hassan Abshir Aadan, followed by Balqiisa Mohamed Omar Mohamed in second place, and Ahmed Abdinasir Abdullahi Abdi in third place [citation:5].

Girls have dominated the top positions in the Banaadir region’s Grade 8 certificate examinations, securing nine out of the top ten spots, with Sumayo Hassan Abshir Aadan achieving a score of 96.88%. The top ten list includes 13 students due to a three-way tie for 9th place and a two-way tie for 10th place [citation:6].

Somaliland also announced its Grade 8 and 12 examination results, revealing exceptionally high pass rates with 25,954 students participating and 25,860 passing, a 99.6% pass rate. The high pass rates have raised questions about the rigour of the examination system and the standards being applied [citation:3].

Educational Context and Regional Comparisons

The Federal Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education announced the Grade 12 national exam results on August 15, 2026, confirming that 40,037 students passed the examination while 2,879 did not meet the required standard. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre personally called the top three students to congratulate them on their achievement [citation:4].

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has received Safiya Macalin Abdulle Cumar and her son, Maxamed Ciise Daahir, who secured the top position in this year’s National Secondary School Certificate Examination. The top three students are Maxamed Ciise Daahir Yuusuf, Farxiya Faarax Cumar Cigaal, and Amino Khaalid Cabdalla Ahmed [citation:1].

Speaker Jaamac has also met with top Grade 12 students, praising their academic excellence. However, while over 40,000 students passed the Grade 12 exams, millions of children across the country remain out of school due to conflict, displacement, poverty, and lack of infrastructure [citation:2].

Puntland also announced its Grade 12 results, with 8,205 of 8,923 students passing, a 92% pass rate, while 718 students failed and 35 had their results cancelled over examination-related violations [citation:3].

The Ministry of Education has previously listed several key achievements, including the recruitment of 3,000 additional teachers, scholarships for 3,000 girls, and the development of the first-ever Higher Education Act [citation:6].

Critical Note

The 99% pass rate in South West State’s Grade 8 examinations raises questions about the rigour of the examination system and the standards being applied. While the results reflect the hard work of students and teachers, pass rates approaching 100% are unusually high by international standards and may suggest that the examinations are not sufficiently differentiated to identify varying levels of student achievement [citation:3].

The challenge for South West State’s education system is not simply to ensure that students pass examinations, but to ensure that those examinations accurately assess student learning and that the qualifications they receive are meaningful and recognized. Without external validation of standards, there is a risk that the qualifications may not be recognized by universities or employers, limiting the opportunities available to graduates.

While the government has made progress in education, including the recruitment of thousands of teachers and scholarships for girls, millions of children across the country remain out of school due to conflict, displacement, poverty, and lack of infrastructure [citation:2]. The South West State administration must ensure that its education system continues to develop and that examination standards are maintained. The high pass rates should not be a cause for complacency but should prompt reflection on whether the education system is adequately preparing students for the challenges they will face in higher education and the workforce.