KAMPALA – Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni on Friday, January 19 released Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at the Kampala Parents School in Naguru.
The results indicate that a total of 695,804 candidates from 13,475 centres (schools) registered for PLE in 2019. Of this number, 473,893 (68.2%) were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries, and 221,912 (31.8%) of the candidates were Non-UPE.
PERFORMANCE OF CANDIDATES BY SUBJECT
The performance of candidates in the four subjects is compared over the two-year period of 2019 and 2018 in Table 3 below. The performance is indicated at Distinction 2, Credit 6 and Pass 8 levels.
Candidates’ overall Performance by Subject
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||||
| SUBJECTS | ||||||||||
| TOTAL | CUMMULATIVE % | TOTAL | CUMMULATIVE % | |||||||
| 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |||||
| ENGLISH | 683,433 | 7.6 | 59.5 | 84.0 | 651,590 | 6.3 | 62.7 | 87.7 | ||
| SST | 683,400 | 14.0 | 78.9 | 93.1 | 657,589 | 12.1 | 80.4 | 95.5 | ||
| SCIENCE | 683,494 | 4.9 | 69.6 | 90.0 | 657,601 | 13.4 | 64.5 | 92.3 | ||
| MATHS | 683,496 | 6.0 | 48.3 | 84.9 | 657,565 | 6.2 | 41.7 | 77.0 | ||
The table indicates that in English and SST, performance improved at the distinction level. Overall pass level rose in Science although performance at the distinction level dropped sharply.
In both English and Mathematics performance was poor in questions where candidates were required to apply knowledge in problem-solving situations or express themselves freely. Candidates were more comfortable with questions that are direct and based on recall. This situation has persisted over the years.
The reports from Examiners, however, indicated that there is an improvement in candidates’ handwriting. Candidates also organized and presented their work more clearly even when the answers are wrong. The number of candidates scoring zero has also reduced greatly compared to previous years.
Overall Performance
The table shows that generally there was better performance in 2019 than 2018 in the upper divisions 2 and 3.
A candidate is deemed to have passed if he/she obtains divisional grades of 1, 2, 3 or
UNEB says such candidates will qualify to register for any post-primary examination it conducts. This year 617,150 candidates passed the PLE compared to 599,593 the previous year.
Overall, therefore, more pupils qualify to join the post-primary institutions than the previous year. 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. Such candidates are advised to repeat.
Examination malpractice
Although the examination was conducted smoothly, cases of malpractice were reported. These were mainly cases of external assistance given to candidates by third parties inside the examination rooms. There were several instances of fake papers circulated prior to the examination. Sixty-one persons have so far been arrested from various parts of the country and charged. Many gullible schools bought these papers and used them to teach the children overnight on the eve of the examination. Such children were greatly disorganized on finding different questions in the examination papers. Markers found in some candidates’ scripts excuses such as “this is not the paper we are to do,” “this is not our examination,” etc.
Those arrested and charged cases are awaiting court action. UNEB wishes to warn that from now on, the perpetrators of examination malpractice will be hunted down and brought to book.
The Board has sought and obtained the approval of the Hon. Minister in accordance with Section 4(3) of the UNEB Act to withhold results of about 1,512 candidates pending completion of investigations. This is much lower than the 3,346 withheld in 2018 PLE. Schools whose results are withheld will be notified through their District Inspectors of Schools.
All candidates whose results have been withheld will be accorded a fair hearing by the Board’s Examinations Security Committee. Those candidates who will be cleared will have their results released. After the hearings are concluded the Board will publish in the media the list of schools and districts from which results will have been canceled.
Report on the work of candidates
The Board gives feedback to its stakeholders. A Report on Work of Candidates is therefore compiled using observations of Examiners. Advice to teachers is given. All stakeholders particularly teachers are urged to utilize this Report.
