Grade 12 Examinee Numbers Drop by 300,000 Over Five Years as Pass Rates Rebound to 12.8 Percent
Ethiopia has seen a significant decline in the number of students taking the Grade 12 national exam, even as pass rates have improved to 12.8 percent. Authorities are adjusting university admission policies and remedial programs to manage these shifts.
Why it matters
The data reflects broader challenges in the Ethiopian education system, including the impact of regional conflict and drought on student participation and academic outcomes.
(NAIROBI, KENYA) — According to Borkena investigations, Ethiopia’s Grade 12 National Examination has recorded a sharp decline of nearly 300,000 examinees over the past five years, alongside a notable improvement in student pass rates.
Out of 550,210 students who sat for the 2025/26 university entrance examinations, 12.8 percent—totalling over 70,000 students—achieved the 50 percent passing mark required for direct university admission. While 87 percent of examinees failed to qualify directly, the pass rate marks a significant recovery compared to earlier national performance levels.
Data reveals a steady drop in overall student participation over recent academic cycles:
Targeted structural reforms and reduced political interference in local school administration have begun driving tangible performance improvements across secondary institutions:
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