Education Minister Irked as 12,000 Candidates Snub PLE
Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni expressed frustration yesterday over the significant number of Primary Seven candidates who registered but failed to appear for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in 2023.
During the release of the 2023 PLE results at Nakasero State Lodge, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), Mr. Dan Odongo, revealed that 12,323 candidates did not turn up for the final PLE exams held on November 8 and 9 last year. This number reduced from 20,844 in 2022.
Uneb registered a total of 749,254 candidates from 15,859 centers for PLE in 2023, compared to 832,654 in 2022.
Minister Museveni emphasized that it is unfair for a student to register for an exam and not show up, stating, When a child fails to show up for their end-of-cycle examination, it is a waste of that life and resources for the entire education system and the families.
The declining completion rates among boys also raised concerns for Minister Museveni, urging a reflection on the underlying causes. She highlighted the need to address the disparity, stating, Why is the boy child not completing primary education? We need to prescribe solutions that address the fundamental causes to prevent this negative trend from getting out of control.
Uneb statistics showed that 52 percent of the 749,254 PLE candidates in 2023 were girls, while 48 percent were boys. This gender distribution remained consistent compared to the 2022 results.
Minister Museveni also expressed concern about the high number of candidates who failed to pass the exams. Uneb reported that 88,272 candidates were ungraded, including 38,346 boys and 49,926 girls. Division U (Ungraded) is awarded to candidates who fail to meet the minimum level of performance for admission to Senior 1.
In response, the government plans to allow learners who performed poorly to repeat Primary Seven in public schools. Minister Museveni also stressed the need to review the practice of promoting students to the next class without demonstrating adequate knowledge and skills.
The selection exercise for Senior One is scheduled to take place between February 1 and 2.
In conclusion, Minister Museveni addressed the challenges faced in the education system, stating that the government is committed to reversing these trends from their root causes. The aim is to ensure a fair and effective education system that equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills for their future.
