486,312 to sit primary school exams
Oct 25, 2008
THE number of candidates sitting Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) has increased by over 50,000 candidates this year. According to statistics from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), a total of 486,312 pupils will sit PLE compared to last year’s 435,000.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE number of candidates sitting Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) has increased by over 50,000 candidates this year. According to statistics from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), a total of 486,312 pupils will sit PLE compared to last year’s 435,000.
UNEB spokesperson, Eva Konde on Wednesday said this was one of the highest numbers recorded by the examinations body in four years.
“We have noted that the number of candidates has increased compared to the last three years,†she said. She said UNEB had become tough on head teachers who embezzle money meant for registration of candidates. In the past, hundreds of candidates have missed examinations after their registration fees were embezzled by head teachers.
The increase is attributed to the efforts of the education ministry to address the challenge of high drop-out rates among primary school pupils.
PLE will take place between November 3 and 4 throughout the country. Konde said over 8,000 scouts and police detectives had been deployed to monitor the exams.
This is the fifth lot of pupils who started P1 under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) to sit for PLE. They joined primary one under UPE in 2002.
However, the issue of drop-outs continues to haunt the primary education cycle, with more than half of the pupils who joined P1 not able to complete P7.
Last year, only 444,019 pupils managed to sit for the examination last year, out of a total of 890,997 enrolled in 2001.
During last year’s education sector review conference, the donors warned that the low completion rate could undermine the UPE programme.
“Results from statistical abstracts (2001-2006) and PLE registration of candidates by UNEB indicate that on average, about 20% of children who started P.1 are able to survive up to P.7,†the assistant commissioner for statistics in the education ministry, Albert Byamugisha told stakeholders.
An efficiency study, carried out last year by the World Bank on behalf of the education ministry, found that billions were being wasted as a result of the high drop-out or repeating classes.
THE number of candidates sitting Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) has increased by over 50,000 candidates this year. According to statistics from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), a total of 486,312 pupils will sit PLE compared to last year’s 435,000.
UNEB spokesperson, Eva Konde on Wednesday said this was one of the highest numbers recorded by the examinations body in four years.
“We have noted that the number of candidates has increased compared to the last three years,†she said. She said UNEB had become tough on head teachers who embezzle money meant for registration of candidates. In the past, hundreds of candidates have missed examinations after their registration fees were embezzled by head teachers.
The increase is attributed to the efforts of the education ministry to address the challenge of high drop-out rates among primary school pupils.
PLE will take place between November 3 and 4 throughout the country. Konde said over 8,000 scouts and police detectives had been deployed to monitor the exams.
This is the fifth lot of pupils who started P1 under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) to sit for PLE. They joined primary one under UPE in 2002.
However, the issue of drop-outs continues to haunt the primary education cycle, with more than half of the pupils who joined P1 not able to complete P7.
Last year, only 444,019 pupils managed to sit for the examination last year, out of a total of 890,997 enrolled in 2001.
During last year’s education sector review conference, the donors warned that the low completion rate could undermine the UPE programme.
“Results from statistical abstracts (2001-2006) and PLE registration of candidates by UNEB indicate that on average, about 20% of children who started P.1 are able to survive up to P.7,†the assistant commissioner for statistics in the education ministry, Albert Byamugisha told stakeholders.
An efficiency study, carried out last year by the World Bank on behalf of the education ministry, found that billions were being wasted as a result of the high drop-out or repeating classes.