Today marks the end of a twenty four year old tradition as over 15,000 students sit the final papers in the Fiji Eighth Year Examination.
The Fiji Eighth Year Examination started in 1986 and was used as a benchmark for students who were looking into entering into secondary school.
This is where students in Class Eight sit for eight subjects and the final mark would include the English results plus the best four subjects taken and the student had to get 250 out of 500 to be able to qualify for secondary school education.
Taufa Vakatale who was the former education minister from 1993-1995 said that today is a very special day for students who are sitting the examination as they are marking the end of a 24 year history.
Vakatale who skipped Form Three and Form Four but jumped to Form Five from Class Eight during her school years at Adi Cakobau School said exams have always been a major part of growing up.
Audio 1
Education Minister Filipe Bole said they had abolished the examinations as it acted as a strainer in the students' process as those who passed their examination moved on to the next level, a substantial number of students drop out of school.
He said school roll will be higher as no one is expected to drop out of school till Form 6.
A total of 15, 131 candidates have registered at 673 centres.
The results of this examination are expected to be released sometimes at the end of October.
Story by: Paradise Tabucala.
