PRIMARY Leaving Examinations (PLE) results for 2004 were released yesterday indicating a decline in overall performance, compared to the previous year.
According to the results released by the new Minister of Education and Sports, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, boys outsmarted girls.
The results also indicate that Science was the best-done subject followed by Social Studies (SST) and Mathematics. English remained the worst done subject for two years running.
Out of the 433,773 candidates from the 9,742 schools that registered for PLE, 29,950 (7.5%) passed in Division One. The figure is lower than the previous year’s 41,090 (11%).
A total of 151,159 passed in Division Two compared to last year’s 138,581. Some 71,731 candidates passed in Division Three and 67,704 in
Division Four. A total of 81,392 (20.2%) candidates failed, a slight improvement from the previous year’s 20.3%.
Bitamazire said Senior One selection starts January 22 to 25, 2005 so as to enable the students to start on February 7.
She said the Ministry and UNICEF would start a programme to facilitate girl education.
Masaka, Luweero, Bundibugyo, Kisoro, Bushenyi, Kabale, Adjumani, Bugiri, Busia, Nakasongola, kyenjojo, Kayunga, Sironko, Entebbe Municipality, Kaberamaido, Yumbe, Apac, Katakwi, Iganga and Jinja had the majority of their top candidates as males.
Bitamazire cited the drop-out rate, repeating and underage as some of the challenges facing UPE.
“It was anticipated that the candidature would be one million in PLE by 2004. This has not been the case,†she said.
She said due to the Government’s generous offer of free education, parents sent to school under age children (below six years) who constituted about 39% of the 2.1 million enrolled in 1997.
She said the ministry would focus on consolidating UPE gains.
Kitgum, Gulu, Koboko, Arua, Nebbi, Lira, Apac, Soroti, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Tororo, Kamuli, Iganga, Mpigi, Mubende, Bundibugyo, Kabale, Kamwenge, Kayunga, and Sironko districts registered high failure levels.
The number of students whose results were cancelled dropped drastically to 24 from 76.
UNEB chief Matthew Bukenya said the results were cancelled mainly due to impersonation and substitution.
PLE results out
