KAMPALA – Female candidates have once again demonstrated stronger academic performance than their male counterparts in the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations, according to results released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB). Despite being fewer in number, female students achieved higher pass rates at the top levels, contributing to an overall high pass rate across the board.
UNEB Executive Secretary, Dan Odongo, announced the results, highlighting the persistent trend of female students excelling in the UACE examinations. “At all the three, all the levels as we look at the table down the past, levels of the females are higher,” Odongo stated, underscoring the consistent outperformance of female candidates in comparison to their male peers.
While the overall pass rate remained high, with 98.8% of candidates qualifying for the UACE certificate, a closer examination revealed nuanced trends. Female candidates particularly excelled in humanities subjects, achieving higher percentages of principal passes at the A and E levels. In contrast, male candidates showed marginally stronger results in some science subjects, though the overall trend favored female performance.
“The A to E column for females, the percentages are better than those of the males, particularly in the humanities,” Odongo explained.
The 2024 UACE results also highlighted a significant increase in the number of candidates sitting for the examinations. A total of 141,996 students registered, marking a 28.4% surge compared to the previous year. This substantial increase has prompted discussions about the factors driving higher participation rates, including potential changes in admission criteria for teacher training programs.
Despite the positive pass rates, UNEB officials expressed concerns about the low numbers of students pursuing science subjects at the UACE level. The board also noted the need for increased university places to accommodate the growing number of qualified candidates.
In addition to the general performance, the results also included data on special needs candidates and inmates. 437 special needs candidates registered for the examination, and all 48 inmates from Uganda Government Upper Prisons who sat for the examination qualified for the UACE certificate.
The consistent outperformance of female candidates continues to be a notable feature of the UACE examinations, highlighting the importance of supporting and encouraging female students in their academic pursuits.
