Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the 2022 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results.
The results were released Friday, January 27, 2023, by Education Minister, Hon Janet Kataaha Museveni, at State House, Nakasero.
According to Dan. N. Odongo, UNEB Executive Director, more candidates obtained Division 1 and Division 2 than in 2020.
“The overall pass levels are comparable between the two years. In terms of numbers, 714,702 candidates passed the PLE compared to 659,910 the previous year,” said Odongo.
He added: “Overall, therefore, more pupils qualify to join the post-primary institutions than the previous year.”
Performance of candidates by subject
According to Odongo, in English, there was a significant improvement in performance at the distinction and credit levels while the overall pass level remained the same.
In Social Studies with Religious Education (SST), performance declined at all levels, while Integrated Science recorded an overall improvement. Mathematics had better performance at the Distinction and Credit pass levels.
Comparison of subject performance by gender
Odongo said the females performed better than the males in English, but the reverse is true for the other three subjects; Social Studies & Religious Education, Integrated Science, and Mathematics.
“This is the trend that has been observed over the years. Candidates’ performance has generally improved as can be seen in the percentages scoring distinction and credit grades.”
He said examiners again reported good handwriting and organized work presented by candidates.
“The number of candidates scoring zero in various subjects has generally decreased compared to previous years. In Mathematics, even those who scored zero showed mathematical language compared to work presented in the past years.”
Examiners attributed the better quality performance to the fact that a lot of the questions were based on real-life situations to which candidates could easily relate.
Overall performance by division
In 2022, more candidates obtained Division 1 and Division 2 than in 2020. The overall pass levels are comparable between the two years.
In terms of numbers, 714,702 candidates passed the PLE compared to 659,910 the previous year. Overall, therefore, more pupils qualify to join the post-primary institutions than the previous year.
According to Odongo, a candidate is deemed to have passed if he/she obtains Divisional grades of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Such candidates will qualify to register for any post-primary examination conducted by UNEB.
Division U (Ungraded) is awarded to candidates who have failed to reach the minimum level of performance that can be awarded at least a Division 4. Such candidates should not be admitted to Senior One but should repeat as they will not be eligible to register for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination later.
Divisional grades by funding
A total of 17,253 (2.96%) UPE candidates were absent, while 3,687 (1.48%) non-UPE candidates were also absent.
Odongo says Non-UPE candidates, proportionally, performed better than the UPE candidates.
“Reasons for this disparity in performance, as indicated in earlier Studies by UNEB, could include the fact that teachers in the urban schools tend to spend more time on task, and the learners spend more time in school. The teachers also tend to adopt teaching methods that emphasize the preparation of candidates for test taking. There is a higher level of involvement by the urban parents in their children’s learning process, and urban areas generally have better access to facilities that supplement classroom teaching.”
Overall performance by gender
According to UNEB, proportionally males performed better than females and recorded a lower failure rate.
Performance of special candidate groups
UNEB maintains an examination centre at Uganda Government Upper Prison School, Luzira. A total of 68 candidates were registered (as compared to the 58 registered in 2020).
Of the 68 candidates who registered, 63 candidates sat, 5 passed in Division 1, 34 obtained Division 2, 9 obtained Division 3, 7 obtained Division 4, and only 1 was ungraded; while 5 did not sit for the examination.
Special Needs candidates
UNEB says there were more Special Needs candidates who were partially blind, dyslexic, needed transcribers, and those who needed extra time. Of the Special Needs candidates who registered, 55 were absent.
