PLE 2024: Boys perform better than girls as UNEB records 92% passing rate

Kampala, (UG):- The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Thursday officially the results from the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) with an overall performance of candidates at 91.8% compared to 88.0% in 2023.

This was revealed by UNEB Executive Director, Mr Dan Odongo during the release of the results at State House, Nakasero in Kampala on Thursday, January 23, who said; “The failure rates have decreased, although there is a slight drop in the number of candidates obtaining Division One.”

“A higher proportion of the 2024 candidates passed in Division 2 and above level. Overall, the performance of candidates is better than that of 2023. A higher proportion of the candidates passed (91.8%) compared to 2023 (88.0%),” Odongo stated.

The official PLE results of 2024 indicate that 45,203 boys passed in Division One compared to 39,098 girls. Boys also had fewer ungraded candidates (28,110) compared to girls (36,141).

Girls, however, outshined boys in Divisions Two, Three, and Four, performing better in mainly the English subject, while males excelled in Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science, consistent with previous trends.

According to official figures, a total of 84,301 candidates scored Division One compared to 86,582 in 2023, while 397,589 candidates passed in Division Two, 165,284 in Division Three, and 75,556 in Division Four. However, 64,251 candidates were ungraded and will need to repeat Primary Seven.

Mr Odongo also highlighted that the number of candidates who sat for the 2024 PLE increased to 797,444 from a total of 14,883 centers, compared to 749,347 in 2023. Of these, 524,025 (65.7%) were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries, while 273,419 (34.3%) were from non-UPE schools.

Also, more girls (418,750) than boys (378,709) registered for the exams, reflecting a continued trend. “This has been consistent in recent years, with 52.5% of candidates being girls in 2024, compared to 52.3% in 2023,” Odongo added.

The rate of absenteeism among candidates dropped to its lowest level in five years. Out of the registered candidates, 789,981 sat for the exams, while 10,463 did not turn up, compared to 12,323 in 2023.

“The percentage of absentee candidates in 2024 dropped significantly, marking the lowest level over the last five years,” Odongo said.

UNEB also highlighted an increase in the number of candidates with special needs who sat for the exams. These, particularly the deaf, performed significantly better than in previous years.

“In 2023, 44% of deaf candidates were ungraded, but this year, the proportion dropped to 23%, showing great improvement,” UNEB Board Chairperson, Prof Celestino Obua said.

He acknowledged the financial challenges in providing special arrangements for these candidates, saying, “…the provision of special arrangements for their examination is a costly activity that has been affected by budget shortfalls. However, we continue to hope for improved budget provision.”