The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) on Thursday released results of last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations Results indicating improvements in general performance, and more candidates will be able to join post primary institutions.
The failure rate also reduced by 9.2%, with boys’ failure rate at 5.3% and that of girls at 7.7%.
‘‘11% (77,133) of the candidates passed in division one as compared to 9.1% (50,198) in 2017 ‘’ said Dan Odongo, UNEB Executive Secretary.
13.1% males and 10.5% females passed in division one, while, 42.7% males and 40.6% females passed in division two
20.4 percent division 3 and 16.5 percent division 4 compared to girls with 40.6 percent, 25.6 percent and 16 percent respectively.
Overall, there was improvement In English, social studies and integrated science, performance in Maths improved at distinction level but showed decline at credit and overall pass level.
A total of 671,923 candidates registered for last year’s exams from the 13, 072 centers across the country compared to 646,041 candidates from 12,751 centers in 2017.
This represents an increase of 25, 882 (3.9 per cent), according to the executive Secretary of Uganda National Examinations Board ,Dan Odongo.
Meanwhile, UNEB has withheld the results of 3,500 pupils who sat for the exams, over malpractice.
Dr Daniel Odongo, the Uneb executive secretary, said that although the examinations were conducted smoothly, cases of malpractices were reported.
He said the crime was mainly facilitated by third parties who assisted candidates inside examination rooms.
He said that security operatives who were selected from police, the army, among other agencies, found teachers in some schools like Bundimulinga Primary School, Bubanda Primary School, Bundikahungu Primary School, Clever Origin Primary School in Bundibugyo District, writing answers on the chalkboards for candidates to copy.
He said parents and guardians in the affected schools paid Shs50,000 each to facilitate the malpractice.
Dr Odong said the cases await court action, adding however that all candidates whose results have been withheld will be accorded a fair hearing by Uneb’s Security Committee before final action is taken.
