The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) this morning released the 2016 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results. The results were presented to education and sports minister, First Lady Janet Museveni by UNEB executive secretary Daniel Odongo flanked by UNEB board chairperson Prof. Mary Okwakol. The results showed improved general performance from previous years.
Reduced failures
Pupils in 2016 worked harder. The number of failure reduced by 9.2%, with boys’ failure rate at 5.3% and that of girls at 7.7%. There was marked improved performance especially in English, with girls performing better than boys.
In terms of distinction performance, English rose from 10% to 11.5%, Social Studies (SST) improved from 5.8% to 10.3% while Mathematics rose from 3.9% to 4.5%. Performance in Science, however, dropped by 7%.
Withheld results
The number of examination centres involved in examination malpractices doubled. Last year, results of 909 candidates were withheld over suspected examination malpractice. This time however, the statistic has more than doubled. UNEB has withheld results of 1,886 candidates pending investigation and hearing.
The government, according to the Education minister Museveni, is in the process of amending the UNEB Act to provide for stricter penalties for perpetrators of examination malpractice.
Busoga flanks
Despite the improved performance, some regions in the country had an over 75% failure. Five out of the 10 bottom ranked districts were from the Eastern region especially Busoga. Jinja municipality though was ranked 5th best performing district salvaging the image of the region.
Namutamba district led the pack of failures with only just 24.3 of their candidates passing, while Bulambuli had a 74.3% failure rate.Others like Buyende, Iganga and Mayuge districts had more than three quarters of their candidates failing.
Western districts excel
The newly created municipalities of Ntungamo and Rukungiri shone like stars with over 99% of their candidates passing the exams. Fort Portal led as the best performing district with 99.9% of the registered candidates passing.
The other districts that are in the top 10 best performing districts include Entebbe, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Jinja, Kabale, Masaka, Mbarara, Lira and Masindi municipality.
541,089 candidates qualified for post-primary education. The list of those who qualified includes 69 inmates at Luzira Upper Prison, two passed with Division One, 32 in Division Two and three failed. Senior One selection will take place between January 24 and 25.
