Options for PLE candidates
Frankline Bala (right), who scored Aggregate 5 in Primary Leaving Examination from St Gracious Primary School in Lira City. PHOTO | PATRICK EBONG
The Ministry of Education and Sports has advised pupils who sat for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) last year to pursue skills-based career training in community polytechnic schools.
Dr Safina Kisu Museene, the commissioner for Health Education and Training at the ministry, said both the best performers and those who performed moderately or poorly in the just released examinations have an option to pursue skills career training in 40 community polytechnics.
“If you wish, you can enrol for a three-year Junior Certificate course and you will be assessed on skills acquired before you enrol for a two-year national certificate, which is equivalent to Seniour Four,” Dr Museene told Sunday Monitor yesterday.
She added: “After this, you can enrol for a national diploma from which you will be assessed under the national qualification framework with Senior Six leavers to join university.”
She explained that the beauty with the skills-based training is that the student starts making money from the skills learnt from vocational training institutions and before graduating from the university.
She listed motor vehicle mechanics, bricklaying and concrete practice, carpentry, welding, painting, among other options for PLE candidates.
Dr Museene revealed that in total, government has established 40 community polytechnics in different parts of the country.
They include Olio in Serere District, Bobi in Gulu, Bowa in Luweero, Mbale Community Polytechnic, Bukholi Technical School in Bugiri, Kapchorwa Technical School, Gombe Technical School, Lukole in Kabale District, Masuliita in Luweero District, Amugo Community Polytechnic in Arua District, Inde Community Polytechnic in Madi-Okolo, and Lumiino Community Polytechnic in Busia District.
Dr Museene said both parents and candidates have a negative attitude towards such training because it is assumed that such schools are for students who fail national examinations.
She said even the best performing candidates in national examinations can enrol and there are no minimum qualifications required for students to enrol in such schools.
