
PLE stars of Arch Lenard Schools, Kkkata-Buwambo, receieve a goat donated to them in celebration of their success in the released PLE exams. PHOTO | NOELINE NABUKENYA
Most schools in the Uganda capital of Kampala are built to dominate the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). At least their above-average facilities and princely sum in fees suggest so. Yet last year’s PLE results served the most humbling of experiences. Little wonder, some, like Silver Spoon School, domiciled in the Kampala suburb of Kibuli, are contemplating having the papers that their pupils wrote, re-marked.
Silver Spoon Primary School, which managed only eight first grades and 38 Second Divisions, is not alone in being stunned, even outraged. For the first time, Kampala failed to top the log of the districts with the most number of candidates who hit the bullseye by scoring Aggregate 4.
This time around, its much-vaunted schools just managed a pitiful 66 between themselves. Not since the 2020 PLE when 57 Kampala-based candidates scored Aggregate 4 has a lower tally been mustered. In 2023, Kampala schools shared an impressive 232 candidates who scored Aggregate 4. So what went wrong?
Government officials and education experts who spoke to the Monitor attributed the declining performance of schools in Kampala to poor inspections, low teacher commitment, and various social factors.
And it is not the Aggregate 4 column that has drawn a worried look from many observers. Statistics released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) indicate that the number of pupils who scored First Grade in the capital decreased by 561 compared to last year. However, the number of pupils who passed in the second grade increased.
‘Pull up your socks’
While the aforesaid trend mirrors the national performance, which also saw a decline in Division One results, as Division Two and Three results increased, Kampala will always be judged by a different measure. A lot is expected of it. In Kampala, out of 31,814 pupils who sat for the exams, 8,310 (26 percent) passed in Division One, 17,436 in Division Two, 3,290 in Division Three, while slightly more than 1,400 passed in Division Four. The rest either failed or did not sit for the exams.
In terms of first grades, this represents a decline from the 8,871 pupils (28 percent) who scored Division One last year. Whereas Uneb statistics indicate that 290 more pupils sat for the PLE in 2024 compared to 2023, the performance column is what matters most in the capital. And for now, it is only succeeding in triggering a worried frown expression.
Dr Joyce Moriku Kaduchu, the junior Education minister, this past week attributed the poor performance in Kampala schools to a lack of commitment among Kampala teachers compared to their rural counterparts.
“We are not under-marking Kampala schools. Everybody assumes the best schools are in Kampala, forgetting that rural schools are improving. Many rural schools are stepping up their efforts,” Minister Kaduchu said.
“Teachers in these areas are becoming more committed, determined to show that success is not confined to Kampala. Unfortunately, there is still a cultural mindset that Kampala schools are superior,” she added.
Not doing enough?
In the past, schools in Kampala and the central region such as Budo Junior, Greenhill Academy, Hillside Naalya, Aga Khan and Kampala Parents, among others, have consistently topped the lists. They were, however, conspicuous by their absence when the 2024 PLE results were released at the backend of last week.
The performance has been welcomed with, perhaps unsurprisingly, mixed emotions. Education experts Sunday Monitor spoke to offered differing perspectives, pointing to poor inspections and various social factors as major contributors to the decline.
Mr Hasadu Kirabirta, the Chairperson of the National Private Education Institutions Association (NPEIA), said the problem lies with incompetent teachers who are not doing enough.
“We are still analysing the results thoroughly, but it is evident that the quality of education provided does not meet expectations. There are very few first grades, with most pupils scoring in Division Two. I can confidently attribute this to incompetent teachers, especially in government schools, where additional training is urgently needed,” Mr Kirabirta said.
“Social factors are also contributing to the decline, including poor concentration levels among pupils. Some schools lack compliance with assessment mechanisms, and there is often a mismatch between Uneb assessments and the recommendations of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC),” he added.
READ: PLE 2024 Kampala Schools performance
Death of inspection
Uneb statistics reveal that Bushenyi District had the highest percentage of first grades, with 52 percent of the 1,161 pupils scoring Division One.
It was followed by Kisoro and Ntungamo in that order. Mukono District ranked 10th nationally after 2,385 of its 7,427 candidates scored First Grade. The district was the top performer in the Central Region where Kampala is based. Mukono was followed by Masaka and Kiira, which ranked 11th and 12th, respectively.
Senior educationist Fagil Mande, in an interview with this publication, cited poor school inspections in Kampala as a key issue for the abjectly poor showing.
“Kampala schools are not being inspected adequately. Even though some upcountry schools did not perform as expected, Kampala leaders are not doing enough to ensure regular inspections. Headteachers are asking parents to buy numerous materials, but these materials are not being properly utilised by the schools,” Mr Mande said.
WHAT SOME TEACHERS SAY ...
Disappointed
While the PLE 2024 results may not reflect the hard work we put in, I believe the true measure of our children’s abilities will shine through in their future endeavours in their next educational levels. Although the children and their parents may feel disappointed with these results now, I have faith they will celebrate their achievements down the road. However, I understand for, us as teachers, this situation feels like a heavy burden. The results have left us struggling with emotional, psychological, and social challenges that are hard to bear. It pains us to think that some may view us as failures because our children did not achieve the Aggregate 4 scores they had hoped for. Critics will gather to share their unkind judgments, forgetting the countless hours we dedicated and the sacrifices we made for our P7 candidates. Some may even take pleasure in comparing their own successes to ours, adding to our hurt. We need to come together to address this situation and find a way forward. Our commitment to effective teaching remains strong, and we will continue to advocate for the success and well-being of P.7 candidates. Let’s support one another as we move through this challenging time.’’ – Mr Saidi Awale is the HoD, English at Homisdallen School, Gayaza.
A tale of two cities.
We did not perform well as a school this time, yet in the past, we have consistently been among the top schools. And we are going to protest against these results, it is very painful to us as a school because we have never experienced such outcomes before. We are unhappy and we have requested the examination body to remark our students’ results. We have had the same staff and teachers, and we did not bring in new personnel. I believe this could be a deliberate move by Uneb to tarnish our school’s reputation. I cannot explain to our parents what exactly happened. The situation is very painful, and we are going to protest it. Initially, we decided not to speak about it, but it has deeply affected us. – Mr John Bosco Mutebi, Headteacher, Silver Spoon Primary School, Kibuli
A tale of two cities.
We had 23 candidates, and they all passed with first grades. We achieved 100 per cent success, becoming the top private school in the district. This milestone was the result of hard work, extensive reading, and teaching our pupils how to comprehend questions effectively. The children in the district are disciplined, and there is a high level of concentration in their studies. Our teachers are well-paid and adequately facilitated, which motivated them to put in their best efforts. – Ms Knige Nkahebwa, Director at Rugazi Parents School, Rubirizi District.
Not special.
We are not under-marking Kampala schools. Everybody assumes the best schools are in Kampala, forgetting that rural schools are improving. Many rural schools are stepping up their efforts. – Dr Joyce Mo- riku Kaduchu, junior Education minister