Kampala, (UG):- High Sound for Children (HSC), a Kampala-based non-profit organization advocating for child rights and development through media, has expressed concern over the current focus on grades performance rather than holistic education.
The expression comes in the aftermath of the release of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) where schools and parents gave much attention to what students scored at the expense of what they learnt.
A statement released by HSC over the PLE results highlighted the societal pressure placed on learners to achieve top grades, which it said negatively impacts children’s self-esteem and mental health.
“At High Sound for Children, we are deeply concerned about the current trend of emphasizing grades over holistic education, which negatively impacts children. The focus on examination results often leads to psychological violence, with children feeling unworthy if they do not meet parents’ or schools’ expectations,” said Ivan Senabulya, the Media and Communications Officer at HSC.
Mr Senabulya cited the tragic suicide of a 16-year-old student, Abdurahim Rusiba from Wakiso District in January 2024, as a grim reminder of the consequences of such pressures. “This incident highlights the urgent need for a shift in perspective and support systems for children,” he said.
HSC applauded UNEB’s recent shift towards grading based on proficiency and comprehension rather than rote memorization.
“This approach encourages children to apply what they learn to real-life situations, fostering deeper understanding rather than promoting surface-level academic success,” noted Senabulya.
However, to address the challenges posed by the current education system, High Sound for Children emphasized the need for a more holistic approach to evaluating children’s performance.
The organization stressed that children should not be judged solely by their scores but by their ability to understand and apply knowledge in everyday life.
“Schools must stop rejecting students who score low aggregates. True excellence lies in a school’s ability to nurture and transform struggling learners into thriving individuals. Schools that exclusively admit high-performing students without improving weaker ones are not achieving meaningful results,” Senabulya noted.
The organization also called on media houses to adopt ethical reporting practices, pointing out that the current focus on highlighting only top scorers disregards the diverse circumstances in which children learn and perform. Instead, HSC encouraged the media to feature stories that inspire confidence in all learners.
In addition, the government should also prioritize the 64,251 ungraded candidates by offering alternative educational programs to build their skills and confidence.
HSC also appealed to parents to celebrate their children’s efforts, regardless of their grades, and to guide them toward their strengths. “Not achieving a Division One grade or ‘4s’ is not a failure. Celebrate every child’s effort and guide them toward their strengths,” Senabulya highlighted.
The 2024 PLE Results released last week on Thursday, January 23, overall indicated improved performance compared to 2023, despite a slight decline in the number of first-grade achievers.
Of the 786,981 candidates who sat for the exams, 722,730 passed and qualified to proceed to secondary or tertiary institutions. However, 64,251 candidates failed and were ungraded, unable to advance.
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