More than a quarter of students who sit for their ordinary level Maltese examination failed this year.

Mathematics also continues to be a problem subject, with a 22 per cent failure rate, but there has been a slight improvement in the pass rate for English language.

Out of the 4,691 students who sat for the Matriculation and Secondary Education Examinations Board (Matsec) Sec exam in Maltese, that is equivalent to O level, 26 per cent obtained U, which means they failed, according to figures obtained from the Education Ministry.

The good news is that, over the past five years, the number of students failing the exam that tests their knowledge of Malta’s national language has been decreasing.

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