Eritrea: Denden Award Presented to Outstanding Students
The National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS) branch in the Southern Region recently celebrated academic excellence by presenting the prestigious Denden Award to 77 outstanding students. The ceremony, which took place on 8 September in Dekemhare, recognized scholars—including 34 female students—who successfully attained a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above in the national school-leaving examination for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Now in its fifth consecutive edition, the Denden Award serves as a vital platform for encouraging continuous academic achievement among Eritrean youth. According to Mr. Filmon Mesfun, head of the union branch in the Dekemhare sub-zone, educational consistency is key: an impressive 84% of this year’s awardees had previously received the Indomaso Award for attaining high scores during their eighth-grade national examinations.
Eritrean students in a local classroom. Source: UCG / UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Yemane Abera, administrator of the sub-zone, emphasized that receiving such a high-profile recognition places greater responsibility on the shoulders of the youth. He urged the awardees to remain focused, work diligently, and maintain their competitive edge as they transition into their respective academic studies at the college level.
Celebrating Excellence in Barentu Sub-Zone
In related news, educational excellence was equally celebrated at Bisha Junior and High School in the Barentu sub-zone, where top performers in the national school-leaving examination were also recognized. The honored group included 11 exceptional students who achieved GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 3.8, alongside four remarkable individuals who attained a flawless GPA of 4.0.
Reflecting on these accomplishments, Mr. Legese Hadish, the school’s director, noted that such high marks are the direct result of collaborative efforts and shared commitment between students, parents, and teachers within the education system. He encouraged the recipients to leverage their success as a stepping stone toward realizing their professional aspirations.
Mr. Tesfa’alem Bahta, administrator of the Barentu sub-zone, reinforced this sentiment by underlining that the educational journey requires immense patience and unwavering commitment. He called on the students to emulate the spirit of the Denden Award and their recent examination triumphs to strive for continued excellence in higher education across the region.
The ceremonies concluded with congratulatory messages from regional leadership. Mr. Mahmud Ali Jabra, secretary of the PFDJ in the Gash Barka Region, and Mr. Yasin Mohammed, head of the regional education office, commended the students and their families. They advocated for sustained initiatives like the Denden Award that celebrate academic milestones, noting that from 2023 to 2026 alone, Bisha Junior and High School proudly presented awards to 176 outstanding scholars, helping to secure a bright future for political and social development in the country.
