Only a small number of students from Mon National High Schools have passed the 2025 university entrance exam, according to school administrators under the Mon National Education Committee (MNEC).
A total of 127 students from Mon National High Schools, including Nyisa, Wang Sapaw, Arndin, and Paga Middle School, which has been expanded to the high school level, sat for this year’s university entrance exam.
Among the examinees, only four students from Nyisa High School and two from Wang Sapaw passed the exam. No student from Arndin or Paga school succeeded, bringing the total of just six students who passed the exam, an official from the Mon National High School said.
“Although the number of students taking the exam increased this year, the number of those who passed decreased. Last year, 10 students passed from all the high schools. This year, for example, all 22 students who sat the exam from Arndin failed,” the official said.
Similarly, only 10 out of 91 students from Mon National High School passed the 2024 university entrance exam. This marks the second consecutive year of declining pass rates.
This year has had the lowest pass rate throughout the duration, but no specific reason has been mentioned by the official.
Despite the low results, students who fail the university entrance exam still have the opportunity to pursue higher education through a pre-college program offered by the Mon National College. Upon completion of Pre-College, students can continue their studies at the college level.
“Some students plan to retake the university entrance exam after failing Grade 12, but others opt for the Pre-College path. From there, they can continue their higher education at Mon National College, which provides a more accessible route,” said an official from the college.
Since the military coup, Mon National High Schools have seen a sharp increase in student enrollment, particularly from students transferring from government schools. However, a lack of new infrastructure and staffing persists, accompanied by ongoing shortages of classrooms and qualified teachers.
In contrast, Mon State as a whole recorded the highest university entrance exam pass rate in the country this year. According to the Mon State Department of Education, 5,128 out of 8,972 students who sat for the exam passed, achieving a pass rate of 57.16%.
