Uganda Today Edition: Uganda’s 2024 Primary Leaving Examination Results Released
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the results of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), offering a detailed look into the performance of candidates, trends in education, and areas requiring improvement. Last year\u2024s exams, conducted on November 6 and 7, 2024, were held under the theme Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment. This theme underscored the importance of safeguarding the examination process while assessing learners comprehensively across cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
Growing Candidate Numbers and Inclusivity
A total of 797,444 candidates sat for the 2024 PLE, reflecting a 6.4% increase compared to the 749,347 candidates in 2023. Female candidates continued to outnumber their male counterparts, representing 52.5% of the total, compared to 47.5% for males. This sustained trend highlights progress in encouraging more girls to complete their primary education.
The 2024 exams also marked significant progress in inclusivity, with 3,328 special needs candidates participating\u2014a 25.5% increase from 2023. These candidates included individuals who are blind, deaf, physically handicapped, or facing learning challenges such as dyslexia. Notably, there was near gender parity among special needs candidates. Additionally, 108 prison inmates participated in the examinations, with 71 from Luzira Government Upper Prison and 37 from Mbarara Main Prison. These milestones illustrate Uganda\u2019s commitment to providing education opportunities to marginalized and underserved groups.
Performance Trends and Subject Analysis
The overall performance in 2024 reflected mixed results, with fewer than 20% of candidates exhibiting higher ability in any of the four tested subjects: Mathematics, English, Integrated Science, and Social Studies & Religious Studies. Mathematics and English showed the highest ability levels, with about 17% of candidates demonstrating mastery. However, Integrated Science and Social Studies lagged slightly, with only 14% of candidates excelling in these areas.
Medium ability levels dominated across most subjects, indicating that a majority of learners could recall facts and apply them in familiar contexts but struggled with higher-order thinking. Integrated Science posed the greatest challenge, with 24% of candidates demonstrating lower ability, followed by English at 17.2%.
Gender disparities persisted, with girls performing better in English, while boys excelled in Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies & Religious Studies. However, more girls were placed in lower divisions than boys, correlating with the higher number of female candidates.
Efforts to Curb Examination Malpractice
UNEB reported that the 2024 PLE was conducted securely, with no incidents of leaked examination papers. However, a few cases of malpractice were noted, particularly involving headteachers and invigilators aiding candidates in mathematics. UNEB has taken firm action, resulting in the arrest of 68 suspects and 12 convictions. The Board\u2019s vigilance in maintaining examination integrity reflects its commitment to upholding public trust in the system.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 PLE results provide a valuable lens into Uganda\u2024s primary education landscape. While the increasing number of candidates and strides in inclusivity are commendable, areas such as Integrated Science and English require targeted interventions to boost performance. With UNEB\u2024s efforts to maintain secure and credible assessments, Uganda education system continues to overcome the challenges of a dynamic environment while striving for excellence.
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