PLE: Officials arrested, open exam papers reported

Four people were arrested for alleged exam malpractice in Budaka and Wobulenzi districts as the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) concluded on Thursday.

As many as 640,860 pupils were registered to sit this year's final primary school exams.

Two of the four suspects were found photocopying a fake Mathematics paper with the intention of giving it to candidates, according to Katungi Bishanga.

Bishanga is the officer in-charge of exams at Naguru police headquarters in Kampala. He declined to reveal the names of those caught.

He added that some papers were found open upon delivery in Bushenyi district, and attributed that to laxity by exams body UNEB in fighting exam cheating.

Here's what transpired on some areas . . .

Nakasero Primary school

Charles Sengendo, the school's headteacher, said the two-day exam process went on well and said UNEB delivered exams on time at his school.

 "I am impressed that exams were delivered and picked early. Usually they tend to delay, which has not been the case this time."

He also applauded Vision Group for introducing the Pass PLE pullout, saying it has helped candidates to prepare better for the final exams. "The content in the Pass PLE pullout is well researched, very educative and it helped our pupils in their revision."

Caroline Taaka, who sat her PLE this year, said the exams were fair and she expects to have good results. But her counterpart Joel Feni found the Mathematics paper hard compared to the other three disciplines (Science, English and Social Studies).

Katakwi district

As many as 15 expectant candidates sat their final exams in different examination centres in Katakwi while a few have shunned it due to pregnancy.

Samuel Okiro, the district inspector of schools in the district, said that of the 2,245 registered P.7 candidates in Katakwi, over 15 girls conceived and some boys dropped out due to various reasons.

He blamed parents for marrying off their daughters at an early age, saying it has denied them a chance to sit PLE.

Meanwhile Beda Oraat, a 16-year-old candidate at Toroma Blessed Nursery and Primary School in Toroma sub-county, defied medical advice and went ahead to do the exams. Ahead of the exams, he broke his leg while playing with his younger brother at home.

Buyende district

Police in Buyende arrested an exam invigilator who allegedly engaged in cheating for a candidate at Mulaali Primary School.

Fredrick Bangu, the resident district commissioner (RDC), identified and confirmed the arrest of Ronald Musanye, a teacher at Irundu Primary School in Kagulu sub-county.

The 27-year-old was found with a piece of paper on which he had written answers for one of the candidates to copy from.

RDC Bangu said the invigilator will appear before courts of law to answer charges of misconduct and examination malpractice.

Meanwhile, he said that the areas of Bukungu had the least number of candidates in the district especially boys who were engaged in fishing for "quick money".

(Compiled by Martin Kitubi, Emmanuel Alomu, Philippa Kabiito & Doreen Musingo)