Top schools likely to relax S5 cutoff points

During today’s selection head teachers will factor in the dip in performance in last year’s Uganda Certificate of Education exams.

Kampala

Secondary schools are likely to relax admission requirements for Senior Five students following a dip in performance in last year’s Uganda Certificate of Education examinations.

Head teachers of some top schools such as Namilyango College and Ntare School said they would maintain last year’s threshold intake aggregates of 16 and 17 in best eight subjects, respectively.

The selection of S5 students begins today in Kampala. “When we do an analysis of our results, we are likely to maintain last year’s cutoff of Aggregate 17,” Mr Jimmy Turyagyenda, the Ntare head teacher, said.

Mr Joseph Tumwine, the Kigezi High deputy head teacher in-charge of academics, said: “Students in our catchment area didn’t perform well. It’s likely that the cutoff will not change from last year’s 18 for the boys and 20 for girls but we also have to wait for Ministry’s allocations.”

At least 248, 513 candidates passed out of 262, 987 who appeared for the examination. However, Mr Francis Agula, the Ministry of Education assistant commissioner, yesterday said the government can only sponsor students between divisions one to three under the free A-Level scheme.

This means 128,778 can access this programme after 18,826 scored in Division One, 43, 372 got Division Two and 66, 575 went in Division Three. But majority of the students passed in Division four, the last pass grade at 45.7 per cent (119, 740) and these will be left out. These, if they can’t find funds to join private institutions, will join 13,363 candidates who got divisions 7 and 9 and 5, 903 in Division X who registered with the examining body but didn’t sit the exams.

Mr Agula said although students in Division Four passed, they don’t have a subject combination which is key to joining A-Level. “If you lower the division, somebody who got Division Four has no subject combination and you know you have to specialise at A-Level. So should we just take you without a combination? Wouldn’t this be wastage of government resources?” Mr Agula asked.

According to Mr Dan Odongo, the Uganda National Examinations Board deputy secretary secondary department, students between divisions one and four have passed the exams and can get a certificate.

There are 1,389 institutions including secondary schools implementing free A-Level, non-free A-Level, Primary Teachers College and Business, Technical Vocational institutions. But these are expected to admit students according to the available facilities like classrooms and teachers.

The selected candidates are expected to report to their respective schools on March 4.

Schools Boys Girls
Gayaza High Schools 13
Kigezi High School 18 20
Ntare School 17
Mengo SSS 18 21
St Henrys Kitovu 19
Nabisunsa Girls School 16
Kibuli SS 18 21
Mary Hill High Sch 21
Namilyango College 14
Ndejje S.S 16 18
Gombe S.S 17 21
Mbarara High Sch 19
Jinja College 26
Bukooli College 21 21
Kawempe Muslim SS 22 23
Bubare S.S 47 49
St Edwards Bukuumi 35 35
Bweranyangi Girls 22
St. Peter’s College Tororo 34
St Maria Katende 27 30
Namiremba HS 28 30
Kibibi S.S 29 33
Hilton HS 35 40
Kabale Brainstorm 35 40
St. Pauls SS Bukinda 42 49
Kako SS 43 43
Crane HS, Kitintale 45 45
Muhimba SS 56 56
Alere SS 46 50
Amolatar SS 54 54
Mpanga SS 45 45
Maracha S.S 38 47
St. Catherine Girls 45

pahimbisibwe@ug.nationmedia.com