Grade 10 students have commenced their National Examinations, marking point in Papua New Guinea’s education calendar.

At Gordons Secondary School, a total of 386 students — 186 male and 200 female students— are sitting for the week-long assessments that will determine their eligibility to progress to higher secondary education.

According to Mr. Johnymar Cudal, Deputy Principal of Academics, the examination week has begun with Personal Development and Mathematics papers. The exams are being conducted across eight classrooms, with invigilators drawn from nearby schools — including New Erima Junior High, Jubilee Secondary School, and Asia Pacific College — to ensure proper supervision.

 When asked about student safety, particularly as NCD joined in the 50th Independence celebrations, Mr. Cudal assured that operations remained stable.

“Students were hardly affected. We completed all the requirements."

He also noted a slight decrease in student numbers compared to the previous year, though the number of classes remains unchanged.

“It’s the same number of classes, just a minor change in student count."

The examination schedule is as follows:

* Oct 6: Session1- Mathematics Session 2 - Personal Development

* Oct 7: Session 1- S/Science Session 2- Arts

* Oct 8: Session 1- Science Session 2 - TIA/CCT

* Oct 9: Session 1 - Bus Studies Session 2 - Agriculture

* Oct 10: Session 1 - English

The National Examinations are a critical stage in Papua New Guinea’s education system, assessing students’ academic performance and readiness for the next level.