At least 133,000 primary leavers in Uganda are currently stranded as schools open for the new academic year, according to the Ministry of Education. This comes after the ministry revealed that 20 percent of the candidates who passed the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) have not been admitted to any secondary school. The two-day Senior One selection exercise in Kampala admitted 515,160 candidates out of the total 648,662 who passed PLE. This leaves 133,502 potential Senior One students without a place in any school.
Dr Jane Egau, the chairperson of the selection committee, cited limited space in schools as the reason for the unadmitted students. She stated that a survey will be conducted to determine the capacity of schools. In the meantime, private schools that did not participate in the selection exercise and some technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions are expected to admit the remaining learners.
While traditional and top schools admitted a maximum of 200 candidates, with the majority scoring between Aggregate Four and 12, the non-traditional and average schools did not exceed Aggregate 28. Private institutions are willing to absorb the unadmitted students but criticize the government’s selection process, which they say prioritizes grades over fairness in admissions.
Dr Egau assured parents that the placement process is ongoing and encouraged them to seek special consideration and guidance for their children. She emphasized that the goal is to ensure that all candidates who have not been selected find placement in a school.
For the unselected candidates, enrolling in one of the 41 Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions is an option. Applications are being received until February 9, and the selection exercise will take place on February 12. TVETs offer practical skills training in various fields, including welding, mechanics, carpentry, agriculture, and business studies.
The Ministry of Education emphasizes that the TVET sector has the capacity to absorb all 648,662 candidates who passed the 2023 PLE. Dr Wilfred Nahamya from the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (Ubteb) highlights the importance of TVET education, stating that it provides students with practical skills and equips them for the workforce.
However, the failure of schools to admit over 130,000 qualified learners has raised concerns about government planning. Mr. Filbert Bates Baguma, the Secretary General of the Uganda National Teachers Union, criticizes the government’s failure to anticipate the number of schools needed to accommodate all candidates. He warns that the denial of placement could lead to more dropouts and hinder students’ progress beyond primary education.
The Ministry of Education is urging parents and students to consider the TVET option and explore other schools where vacancies may still be available. The selection process continues as efforts are made to ensure that every qualified student has the opportunity to continue their education.
