Form IV exams kick off as candidates number rises

A TOTAL of 595,816 candidates begin 2025 Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations (CSEE) today, marking a 7.67 per cent increase in registered school candidates compared to last year.

Executive Secretary of the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA), Prof Said Mohammed, told reporters yesterday that out of the total candidates, 569,914 are school candidates while 25,902 are private candidates.

“In 2024, the total number of registered school candidates was 529,329. This year, there is an increase of 40,585 candidates, representing 7.67 per cent growth,” Prof Mohammed noted.

Of the 569,914 school candidates, 266,028 are boys (46.68 per cent) and 303,886 are girls (53.32 per cent). There are also 1,128 candidates with special needs, including 860 with low vision, 70 with vision impairment, 58 with hearing impairment, 5 with intellectual impairment and 135 with physical impairment.

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Among private candidates, 11,862 are boys (41.93 per cent) and 15,040 are girls (58.07 per cent), with 56 candidates having special needs, including 49 with low vision and 7 with vision impairment.

Prof Mohammed assured that all preparations for the CSEE have been completed, including the distribution of exam papers, answer booklets and other essential documents to all regions on the mainland and Zanzibar.

The examinations will be conducted at 5,868 secondary schools and 813 private candidate centres.

“The CSEE is crucial in assessing students’ proficiency in all subjects covered during their four years of secondary education. The results play a key role in selecting candidates for Form Five and professional training fields such as Health, Agriculture and Technical Studies,” he said.

Prof Mohammed further urged all examination committees, invigilators, school owners and principals to uphold exam security and ethics. He warned that any centre endangering exam integrity could face cancellation and that any student caught cheating will have their results nullified.

“The council trusts that teachers have prepared students well over the past four years and we expect all candidates to adhere to examination rules. Stakeholders are encouraged to report any instances of fraud to relevant authorities,” he added.