Schools to raise S.1 cut-off points

Some of the former pupils of Lorencia Junior School Nsangi, who will be joining secondary schools soon. Many schools are set to hike their cut-off points following an improved performance in last year’s PLE. PHOTO by f. kasirye

What you need to know:

A mini survey conducted by this newspaper indicates that schools will hike the entry points thanks to the improved performance in last year’s PLE as selection looms.

KAMPALA

There will be stiff competition for Senior One students hoping to join secondary school as majority of schools are set to hike their cut-off points following an improved performance in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

A Daily Monitor mini survey conducted yesterday across the country showed that a number of traditionally good schools will either maintain last year’s cutoff points or increase it, depending on the applicants’ performance.

Sister Gladys Kachote of Immaculate Heart Girls in Rukungiri District, yesterday said their cut-off points will increase from Aggregate 7 to Aggreagete 6 this year. “We received many applicants and when you look at the general performance, it is better than that of last year,” she said.

Traditional giants
As it has been in the past, the cut-off points for schools such as Kings College Budo, Mt St Mary’s Namagunga, Namilyango College, St Mary’s College Kisubi, Kibuli SS and Gayaza High, are likely to remain at Aggregate 4 for boys and 5 for girls.

The 2014 PLE results released two weeks ago show that out of the 585,620 candidates who sat, 516,861 passed, representing 88.2 per cent compared to last year’s 88.1 per cent.
Uganda National Examinations Board considers only candidates who score between Division One and Four to have passed. However, most schools performing well at O-Level only admit pupils in Division One.

Some have, however, faulted the selection system, saying it is just a formality and they do not benefit.

Kinyasano Girls, for example, in Rukungiri District, is likely to reduce the cut-off point from Aggregate 11 to 12 because past experience has shown that most of the students admitted during selection do not show up.

“Those students on the official list from ministry of Education do not turn up. This is because those we usually admit first have made us their second choice. They always go back to schools they made their first choice and we are forced to do another admission internally,” Mr Karobwa explained.

Earlier, Mr Yusuf Nsubuga, the Ministry of Education director for basic and secondary education, said the cut-off will be determined by an automatic computerised system and that it will depend on the performance of candidates who applied in that particular school.

Meanwhile, school fees is also likely to increase. Immaculate Heart Girls school fees is likely to be Shs800,000. One will need Shs1.2m to join Mbarara High School, Shs971,000 for St Peters’ College, Tororo, Shs950,000 for Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School and Shs900,000 for Ntare School.

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