South Pacific International Academy (SPIA) has achieved great results in its first-ever Grade 8 national exams, with nearly half of its students earning Academic Excellence scores, the school said in a statement.
Out of the 17 students who sat for the exams, SPIA said eight were recognized for Academic Excellence, while the remaining students performed well within the Merit category.
“These results mark a proud moment for SPIA, as these students, many of whom have been part of the school for years, are the pioneers entering Grade 9 in 2025,” it added.
SPIA follows a rigorous international curriculum based on the American education system, and focused on providing education at the international scale, preparing students to be competitive at that level.
According to Pastor Matt Allen, the Chairman of the School Board at SPIA, the graduates of this curriculum have gone on to prestigious careers in the United States, including serving as senators, physicians, and nuclear scientists.
Pastor Allen shared: "These results were surprising to the Education Department because it was our first time to take the exams, and for that reason, they delayed giving the results back to us," he said.
The students found the exam to be quite easy, since they were already studying concepts beyond this level, he said. The school and administration plan to continue to push its students to the international level of education.
SPIA believes its students will continue to excel and make a significant impact in Papua New Guinea and beyond, with such a strong foundation.
"We are very proud of our students who undoubtedly will go on to be the best in the nation," Allen added.
