'O’ Levels
Jan 25, 2005
THE 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results were slightly better than the previous year’s, the education ministry said yesterday.
By Anne Mugisa and Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results were slightly better than the previous year’s, the education ministry said yesterday.
The O’level results released yesterday indicated that boys maintained the lead over girls, although the number of female candidates rose to 45.5% from last year’s 45%.
Government schools performed better than private ones (see details on pages 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).
The results were released by the regional cooperation minister who is holding the education portfolio, Okello Oryem. The worst performed subjects were English, History, Geography and Chemistry. There was a slight improvement in Christian Religious Education (CRE), mathematics, agriculture, physics and biology.
The Uganda National Examinations Board secretary, Matthew Bukenya, said candidates’ performance in mathematics and other sciences was still worrying.
“A large percentage who took these subjects were unable to score the minimum pass at grade eight. Examiners put the poor performance in science to lack of practical experience by candidates.
Lack of laboratories and equipment in many schools means that students are not exposed to practical work. Many handle certain pieces of apparatus for the first time in examination; which they find quite bewildering,†Bukenya said.
He said 30% of centres did not have laboratories or laboratory equipment. “This is worrying as we make science compulsory,†he said.
Okello Oryem said from next year, all O’level candidates would be required to take all science subjects. He expressed concern about the rural-urban divide in performance. Urban schools excelled against rural ones, the majority scoring aggregate eight in the best eight subjects.
He cited the 10 worst performing districts as Kaberamaido with only 1.4% of the candidates passing; Sironko, 1.9%; Nakapiripirit, 2.0%; Kyenjojo, 2.1%; Bundibugyo, 2.6%; Katakwi, 2.6%; Kasese, 3.2%; Kamwenge, 4.0%; Kamuli, 4.1% and Kapchorwa with 4.2%.
Although the offcials did not mention the best districts, the results showed that the best five candidates in Kampala, Luweero, Masaka, Mukono and Wakiso scored aggregate 8. Okello Oryem said the selection for senior five takes place on February 3. Senior Five report for classes on February 14.
Bukenya said malpractice had reduced and that only 312 results were cancelled compared to last year’s 851.
Schools that lost their exam centres were Mbarara College, King of Kings, Kibibi Central, St, John’s Rutsya, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, Mpigi High, Millennium SS, Luweero, Green Hill College Kaberebere and St. Theresa Katende where invigilators were beaten lost their centres.
The cancelled results were from Mpanga SSS in Kabarole, Bugabula SSS and Kidera in Kamuli, Rubona SS, Kabarole, Kitholu SS, Kasese, Sentah College in Mbarara, Pimbas SSS, Kampala, Bukandula Mixed SSS, St. John’s Rutsya and Nansana SS.
Of the 150,745 candidates, 18,740 passed in Division One, 40,528 in Division Two, 47,470 in Division Three, 29,039 in Division Four and 11,893 failed.
Present at the release of the results were education director Dr. Richard Akankwasa, PS Francis Lubanga, UNEB chairman Prof. Lutalo Bbosa and the commissioner for secondary education, Yusuf Nsubuga.
THE 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results were slightly better than the previous year’s, the education ministry said yesterday.
The O’level results released yesterday indicated that boys maintained the lead over girls, although the number of female candidates rose to 45.5% from last year’s 45%.
Government schools performed better than private ones (see details on pages 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).
The results were released by the regional cooperation minister who is holding the education portfolio, Okello Oryem. The worst performed subjects were English, History, Geography and Chemistry. There was a slight improvement in Christian Religious Education (CRE), mathematics, agriculture, physics and biology.
The Uganda National Examinations Board secretary, Matthew Bukenya, said candidates’ performance in mathematics and other sciences was still worrying.
“A large percentage who took these subjects were unable to score the minimum pass at grade eight. Examiners put the poor performance in science to lack of practical experience by candidates.
Lack of laboratories and equipment in many schools means that students are not exposed to practical work. Many handle certain pieces of apparatus for the first time in examination; which they find quite bewildering,†Bukenya said.
He said 30% of centres did not have laboratories or laboratory equipment. “This is worrying as we make science compulsory,†he said.
Okello Oryem said from next year, all O’level candidates would be required to take all science subjects. He expressed concern about the rural-urban divide in performance. Urban schools excelled against rural ones, the majority scoring aggregate eight in the best eight subjects.
He cited the 10 worst performing districts as Kaberamaido with only 1.4% of the candidates passing; Sironko, 1.9%; Nakapiripirit, 2.0%; Kyenjojo, 2.1%; Bundibugyo, 2.6%; Katakwi, 2.6%; Kasese, 3.2%; Kamwenge, 4.0%; Kamuli, 4.1% and Kapchorwa with 4.2%.
Although the offcials did not mention the best districts, the results showed that the best five candidates in Kampala, Luweero, Masaka, Mukono and Wakiso scored aggregate 8. Okello Oryem said the selection for senior five takes place on February 3. Senior Five report for classes on February 14.
Bukenya said malpractice had reduced and that only 312 results were cancelled compared to last year’s 851.
Schools that lost their exam centres were Mbarara College, King of Kings, Kibibi Central, St, John’s Rutsya, Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, Mpigi High, Millennium SS, Luweero, Green Hill College Kaberebere and St. Theresa Katende where invigilators were beaten lost their centres.
The cancelled results were from Mpanga SSS in Kabarole, Bugabula SSS and Kidera in Kamuli, Rubona SS, Kabarole, Kitholu SS, Kasese, Sentah College in Mbarara, Pimbas SSS, Kampala, Bukandula Mixed SSS, St. John’s Rutsya and Nansana SS.
Of the 150,745 candidates, 18,740 passed in Division One, 40,528 in Division Two, 47,470 in Division Three, 29,039 in Division Four and 11,893 failed.
Present at the release of the results were education director Dr. Richard Akankwasa, PS Francis Lubanga, UNEB chairman Prof. Lutalo Bbosa and the commissioner for secondary education, Yusuf Nsubuga.