South24 Center (Aden)

Yemen’s Ministry of Education in Aden announced an overall success rate of 90.8% in the General Secondary Education Certificate examinations for the 2025–2026 academic year, a high figure that comes amid persistent concerns over cheating, identity impersonation, and other irregularities within the country’s examination system.

The results, announced on Thursday, August 27, showed that 94,048 students applied to take the scientific and literary examinations. Of these, 90,890 attended, while 3,158 were absent.

According to the ministry, 82,491 students passed the examinations, bringing the overall success rate to 90.8%.

The scientific track recorded the highest success rate, with 79,580 students applying, 76,822 attending, and 70,315 passing, equivalent to a success rate of 91.5%.

In the literary track, 14,468 students applied, 14,068 attended, and 12,176 passed, resulting in a success rate of 86.6%.

Education Minister Adel Abdulmajid Al-Abbadi said the ministry had sought to conduct the examinations in an atmosphere of discipline and transparency, stressing that it would continue evaluating the examination process, identifying shortcomings, and working to address them in the coming years.

However, the high success rates come against the backdrop of recurring concerns over cheating during Yemen’s high school examinations.

Ahead of this year’s exams, Al-Abbadi called for combating cheating and rumors that could distract students and undermine the examination process.

During the examination period, education authorities in Taiz announced the detection of 21 cases of identity impersonation, alongside a limited number of cheating cases at several examination centers, saying that legal measures had been taken against those involved.

The persistence of such cases highlights a broader challenge facing education authorities as they seek to preserve the credibility of national examinations and ensure consistent levels of oversight and discipline across different governorates.

The results were announced at a time when the education sector in areas under Yemen’s internationally recognized government continues to face severe financial and administrative pressures.

Teachers have repeatedly complained about delayed salaries, low wages, and unpaid entitlements and allowances.