By Caroline.N.
Today, over 817,000 Primary Seven pupils across Uganda have commenced the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), a pivotal step for students moving from primary to secondary education. This year’s candidate pool reflects a steady increase from previous years, with 389,529 boys and 428,356 girls registered to sit for exams at 16,140 centres nationwide.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has deployed nearly 60,000 field personnel, including invigilators and examination supervisors, to ensure that the process is conducted fairly and efficiently. Special arrangements have been made for 3,644 candidates with learning needs, including those who are blind, visually impaired, deaf people, or dyslexic, who are allowed 45 extra minutes per paper.
The examinations, covering Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, and Religious Education, are expected to continue over several days. UNEB officials have stressed that all candidates should remain calm and adhere strictly to instructions. Jennifer Kalule Musamba, UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer, urged candidates to focus on their preparation, saying, “All candidates will be briefed by their head teachers before sitting for the Mathematics paper, followed by Social Studies and Religious Education. We also caution the public against individuals claiming to have access to actual exam papers — anyone caught will face prosecution.”
UNEB Executive Director Daniel Odongo further reminded students to avoid seeking unfair assistance, stating, “Anyone trying to give you assistance during the course of the examination will cause the cancellation of your results. Remain calm, confident, and follow the instructions. The questions are drawn from what you have studied.”
School leaders have expressed cautious optimism about the candidates’ preparedness. Aidah Nagadya, a headmistress from Mityana District, noted, “Our candidates have prepared with great focus and resilience. Even with the few challenges we faced, especially some teachers missing lessons, the pupils have shown a strong spirit of hard work.” She, however, raised concerns about infrastructure, adding, “We are worried about the condition of our classrooms. Some of them leak whenever it rains, making it difficult for pupils to concentrate.”
This year, 522,039 pupils are funded under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) scheme, while 295,846 candidates are privately sponsored. Despite concerns about fake exam papers circulating on social media, UNEB has assured the public that strict surveillance and security measures are in place to maintain transparency and fairness.
The PLE results, expected within a few months, will determine the placement of students into secondary schools across the country. The examinations not only mark the culmination of primary education but also set the foundation for future academic opportunities for Uganda’s youngest learners.