The nationwide matriculation results, which were released on 6 June, showed that for the 2014 to 2015 academic year 18,170 Mon State students took the matriculation exam and 7,886 passed, giving Mon State students a pass rate of 43.4 percent. Only the students in Irrrawaddy Division were more successful, with 51.78 percent of them passing the matriculation.

Magway Division came third with 40.86% passing and Rangoon Division was in fourth place with 37.16% passing

U Myo Tin Aung, the director of Mon State Education Department said: “Our State is now ranked second after it had the highest pass rates for six years continuously. It was a kind of important tradition. So, in this upcoming academic year, to regain the best performance, we have to bring energy from the beginning and we have to collaborate with local authorities, NGOs, students’ parents and teachers.”

As for the grading of townships in Mon State, Mudon Township is ranked number one with 63.08% passing, followed by Thanbyuzayat Township with 53.68%, and Moulmein Township in third place with a 47.89% pass rate

Of those who passed the exams, 20 students received distinctions for six subjects, 60 students received five distinctions, 224 students earned four distinctions, 293 students received three distinctions, 400 students gained two distinctions and 1646 students obtained one distinction.

According to the  Mon State Education Department, Mon State fell behind the Tenasserim Division and ranked second in 2007-2008 academic year. However, it had been known as the best performer for several years before that, and it regained its top place rating in the 2008-2009 academic year and was the best performing state for six years until the 2013-2014 academic year.

About 600,000 students participate in the high school matriculation exams annually, and the national pass rate is above 30% every year.