PLE Results: UNEB Raises Red Flag As Boys Outperform Girls And Ungraded Cases Spike

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The Minister in charge of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni has officially released the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results at State House, Nakasero. The Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), Dan Odongo presented the overall outcomes.

The report indicates higher enrolment of girls than boys but boys registered better overall performance and lower failure rates. At the same time, the number of ungraded candidates remains alarmingly high while absenteeism has remained almost the same as in 2024, Best done subjects are English and mathematics while worst done subject is Social Studies with Religious Education. Cases of examination malpractice were reported mainly in Kampala, Western, and Eastern Uganda.

A total of 817,883 candidates from 15,388 examination centers registered for PLE in 2025 compared to 797,444 candidates in 2024 an increase of 20,439 candidates (2.6%). Of these, 522,036 candidates (63.8%) from 11,525 centers were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries while 295,847 candidates (36.2%) from 3,863 centers were from non-UPE schools.

In 2025, 389,469 boys (47.6%) and 428,324 girls (52.4%) were registered. This confirms that more girls completed the primary education cycle than boys although the difference slightly reduced from 52.5% girls and 47.5% boys in 2024.

The number of Special Needs candidates increased by 308 from 3,328 in 2024 to 3,636 in 2025 attributed to increased awareness and support in schools. Of these, 48.3% were female and 51.7% male.

UNEB also registered 101 inmate candidates, with 61 candidates from Uganda Government Upper Prison, Luzira and 40 candidates from Mbarara Main Prison Inmates Primary School. At Luzira, 54 were males and 7 females while in Mbarara, 39 were males and 1 female.

There was a reduction in enrolment at Luzira compared to 71 inmates registered in 2024. Of the 61 candidates registered in 2025, 58 sat the examinations. Four obtained Division One, 27 Division Two, 13 Division Three, five Division Four and nine were ungraded while three candidates did not sit reportedly having been released before the examination period, according to Odongo.

At Mbarara Main Prison, 39 out of 40 candidates sat the examination. Seven obtained Division One, 15 Division Two, 10 Division Three, five Division Four and two were ungraded while one candidate was absent.

The Board reported that 10,570 candidates were absent maintaining the 1.3% absenteeism rate recorded in 2024. This means 807,313 candidates sat for the examinations out of the 817,883 registered. Odongo highlighted the need to establish reasons behind the persistent absenteeism trend.

However, 77,080 candidates were ungraded with females accounting for 42,580 and males 34,500. The Minister of Education Janet Museveni demanded accountability questioning how such outcomes persist despite the presence of head teachers, District Education Officers and inspectors.

“We do not need lamentations over the unsatisfactory performance of our learners; those responsible must explain why this is happening,” Museveni said.

The State Minister for Primary Education, Moriku Kaducu attributed the high failure rates partly to teacher absenteeism.

Subject performance analysis showed higher ability in English, Mathematics and Social Studies with Religious Education as well as Integrated Science. Medium ability was observed in Integrated Science, SST, Mathematics and English while lower ability was registered mainly in Mathematics, English, and Integrated Science.

At Grade 8 and above, candidates performed best in English, Integrated Science and Mathematics, while Social Studies with Religious Education (SST) registered the poorest performance. This reflects an improvement in English but a significant decline in SST compared to 2024.

According to Odongo, candidates struggled with questions requiring application of knowledge to their communities and country suggesting that SST teachers are not adequately adapting to competency based learning methods. This, he explained, accounts for the decline in SST performance.

Minister Museveni urged teachers to adjust their teaching approaches to align with the new curriculum revealing that the ministry is reviewing the curriculum to ensure coherence between primary and lower secondary education.

In subject specific performance, females outperformed males in English while males performed better in Integrated Science and SST. In Mathematics, males performed better up to Credit 4 and were fewer in Grades 7, 8, and Fail (Grade 9).

Overall, males recorded better performance and lower failure rates with a higher proportion achieving Divisions One and Two compared to females.

Most results were withheld in districts including Kisoro, Kampala, Mukono, Namutumba, Kassanda, Buyende and Kaliro while no cases were reported in Kyenjojo, Kabarole, and Bundibugyo despite previous concerns of malpractice.

The UNEB Chairperson, Prof. Celestino Obua revealed that examination malpractice involved school directors and teachers working with scouts to assist candidates before or during examinations. Evidence also implicated district education officials and inspectors.

In one private school in Kassanda, inspectors, invigilators and scouts were arrested for creating WhatsApp groups to facilitate malpractice. Eight individuals were convicted and sentenced, five remanded, others released on bail while suspects still at large are being pursued.

Minister Museveni also expressed concern over the mushrooming of private examination bureaus, arguing that they distort the purpose of learning. “Education is not about passing examinations but acquiring relevant competencies,” she emphasized.

She directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education to investigate loopholes in examination bureau practices.

The minister further warned against public disclosure of learners’ personal information stressing adherence to data protection laws. She cautioned that publishing learners’ names and photographs exposes them to stigma and emotional distress. She announced that the Senior One selection exercise will take place on 12th and 13th February while First Term 2026 will officially begin on 2nd March 2026.

Writer: Ivan Kaahwa
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