10% of PLE Students Get Division U; To Miss Secondary School

By CHIMPREPORTS

First Lady Janet Museveni has released the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) for the year 2023 at State Lodge, Nakasero.

A total of 749,254 candidates from 15,859 centres (schools) registered for PLE in 2023 compared to 832,654 in 2022.

Of this number, 501,602 (66.9%) from 11,365 centres were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries, and 247,652 (33.1) of the candidates were Non UPE.

While a higher proportion of the 2023 candidates passed in Division 3 and above level, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo said, “It should be noted that the number of candidates in Division U is quite high, at 88,269 (10.4%)”

He said the huge number in the bottom position “should raise concern so that they do not just add to the statistics of school drop-outs.”

Odongo emphasised: “There are districts such as Kibuku (31.5%), Madi Okollo (31.5%), Dokolo (28.9%), Kween (28.4%), Namisindwa (28.9%) where the percentages are well above the national average. Many other districts have over 20% of the candidates in Division U. It is necessary to find out the causes and address them.”

Division U (Ungraded) is awarded to candidates who have failed to reach the minimum level of performance that can be awarded at least a Division 4.

They are not eligible for admission to the Senior 1 class.

“Overall, the performance of candidates is comparable to that of 2022,” said Odongo.

He also said in accordance with Section 5(2) (b) of the UNEB Act, 2021 the Board will withhold the results of the affected candidates pending completion of investigations.

“Where there will be a prima facie case, the Board’s tribunal (Examinations Security Committee) will accord all the affected candidates a fair hearing before making final decisions,” said Odongo, adding, “After the conclusion of the hearings by the Board’s tribunal, the list of districts and schools with cancelled results will be published.”