By Damali Mukhaye
The Ministry of Education and Sports will this week conduct the national Senior One selection exercise at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Multipurpose Hall in Kampala, marking a key step in the transition of thousands of learners from primary to secondary education.
The two-day exercise, scheduled to take place from Thursday, 13 February to Friday, 14 February, will bring together head teachers from secondary schools and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the country. The annual exercise is aimed at allocating successful Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) candidates to various secondary and vocational institutions based on their performance and school choices.
The selection exercise follows the release of the 2025 PLE results, which indicated that 730,233 candidates passed and are eligible to proceed to the next level of education. These learners will either join secondary schools for the Ordinary Level cycle or enrol in TVET institutions to pursue technical and vocational pathways.
According to official figures, a total of 817,883 candidates registered for the 2025 PLE from 15,388 examination centres nationwide. This reflects an increase compared to the 797,444 candidates who registered in 2024. Of those registered in 2025, 807,313 candidates sat the examinations, while 10,570 were absent.
Out of the 807,313 candidates who sat the examinations, 730,233 passed with grades ranging from Division One to Division Four. This represents an overall increase of 7,503 passes compared to the previous year, signaling a continued improvement in performance at primary level.
A detailed breakdown of the results shows that 91,990 candidates passed in Division One, up from 84,310 in 2024. Division Two recorded 388,293 passes, slightly lower than the 397,589 recorded the previous year. In Division Three, 165,226 candidates passed, compared to 165,284 in 2024. Division Four registered 84,724 passes, an increase from 75,556 in 2024.
The Senior One selection exercise is conducted in a centralised setting to ensure transparency, fairness and efficiency in the placement process. During the exercise, head teachers review lists of successful candidates and select learners according to the available vacancies in their respective schools. Consideration is given to candidates’ performance, school choices and district quotas where applicable.
Traditionally high-performing and prestigious schools such as King’s College Budo, Gayaza High School, St Mary’s College Kisubi, St Mary’s Secondary School Kitende, Nabisunsa Girls’ School and Namilyango College are expected to attract a large number of applicants. However, due to limited capacity, not all qualified candidates can be admitted to their first-choice institutions. Learners who are not selected for their preferred schools are subsequently considered for placement in their second-choice or alternative institutions.
The Ministry has emphasised that the objective of the exercise is to ensure that every qualified candidate secures placement in either a secondary school or a TVET institution. The inclusion of technical and vocational institutions in the selection process reflects the government’s broader policy of promoting skills-based education and providing multiple pathways for learners.
Speaking on the forthcoming exercise, the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Kataaha Museveni, indicated that learners selected during the exercise will report to Senior One in accordance with the official school calendar issued by the Ministry. She urged parents and guardians to follow official communication channels for updates regarding reporting dates and school requirements.