Masindi CAO vows to reassign underperforming headteachers

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In a bid to improve academic performance across Masindi district, chief administrative officer (CAO) Samuel Kaija Ruhweza has warned that underperforming headteachers will be relieved of their administrative duties and reassigned to classroom teaching roles.

"Non-performing headteachers are going to be sent to the classroom, and we shall identify teachers from the same schools to assume the headteacher's role," Ruhweza said while officiating at the release of the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results for Masindi district at the district headquarters on February 6, 2026.

He clarified that affected headteachers would retain their salaries but would no longer carry out supervisory responsibilities.

Some of the headteachers and teachers who attended the release of PLE results. (Photo by Yosam Gucwaki)

"There are headteachers who are adamant and resistant to any role aimed at improving performance at schools," he added.

Ruhweza further explained that a comprehensive assessment of each headteacher’s performance and ability to deliver results would be compiled by the end of the month.

"We shall not have demoted them, as the procedure is lengthy, but merely relieved them of the headteacher's role. We are going to analyse school by school and consider various factors," he said, noting that the initiative is intended to strengthen academic outcomes.

He also revealed that senior district officials would be assigned to monitor schools across different subcounties as part of intensified inspection efforts.

Masindi acting district education officer Monica Kiiza reported that all results for the 3,306 registered candidates had been released.

She noted a decline in overall performance, with Division One results dropping from 175 candidates in 2024 to 156 in 2025, while Division Two decreased from 1,724 to 1,678 over the same period.

Third Grade results increased from 663 in 2024 to 774 in 2025, Fourth Grade rose from 246 to 325, and ungraded candidates increased from 230 to 349. The number of candidates who missed examinations declined slightly from 27 in 2024 to 24 in 2025.

"There has been a decline in Division One from 5.8% to 4.72% and a decline in Division Two from 56.7% to 50.8% compared to the previous year.

There has been an increase in the failure rate from 7.5% to 10.6%, a decrease in the percentage of absentees during the conduct from 1% to 0.7%, and the pass rate has reduced from 92% to 88.7%."

Private schools significantly outperformed government-aided primary schools, with most top-performing candidates emerging from private institutions.

District education officials attributed the poor performance to several factors, including staff shortages in many schools, lack of commitment among some teachers, incomplete syllabus coverage and limited parental support for quality education.