Oyam, Uganda: Only 98 pupils, representing 2% of the 5,702 candidates who registered for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) Mock across 121 sitting centres in Oyam District, passed in Division One, raising fresh concerns about academic performance in the district.
According to results released on Tuesday, September 16, 764 pupils (13%) passed in Division Two, 845 (15%) in Division Three, and 1,285 (23%) in Division Four. Meanwhile, 2,439 pupils (43%) fell into Division U, and 224 (4%) were categorized under Division X.
The result put the best performing schools in this year’s Mock as St. Gregory Primary School in Kamdini Sub County, which got 9 candidates in Division 1, 11 candidates in Division 2, and only 1 in Division 3. They did not get any failures. There was no candidate who was absent from the examination.
In overall, the best performing candidates in social studies is Ochen Peter Allen, from Atepe Primary School who got 92%, the best candidate in English, is Odongo Isaac from Nora Primary School who got 90%, the best candidate in Mathematics, is Opiru Jacob, from Meta Primary School, who got 98% while Puno Jonathan, from St. Mary’s Junior Primary School emerged the best in Science, with 84%.
Speaking at the release of results at Oyam District Council Hall, District Secretary for Education Beatrice Hellen Auma described the outcome as disappointing and urged headteachers to double their efforts ahead of the national examinations.
Examinations Board Speaks Out
Thomas Okello Bosa, the secretary of Oyam District Examinations Board, said performance had dropped compared to 2024, when 164 pupils passed in Division One. He blamed the trend on weak government-aided schools, noting that private schools largely boosted the Division One numbers.
“Social Studies, English, and Science were fairly done, but Mathematics was very poorly performed. Boys performed slightly better than girls. The main challenges remain inability to interpret questions due to weak English language use, and lack of competence-based assessment skills among teachers,” Okello said.
He recommended annual refresher training for teachers on competence-based assessments to close the gaps.
District Education Officer Weighs In
David Adea, the Oyam District Education Officer, linked the poor performance to long-standing gaps in early learning and weak parental involvement.
“Performance doesn’t come suddenly in P.7. It starts from P.1. The results show that our children are still lacking. Some teachers and inspectors are not doing enough supervision, while parents are failing in their role, including provision of midday meals,” Adea said.
He promised stricter supervision and support for teachers, with a target of at least five first graders per school in the forthcoming PLE.
Headteachers React
Joan Ketty Apio, the headteacher at Alworopi Primary School in Myene sub County, promised to employ strategies including active Learners’ participation involving and creating teacher-learners relationship so that teachers come in to help a learner in learning areas where a learner is getting challenges.
Similarly, Maxwell Okol, the head teacher of Kusewit in primary school admits that the mock results are not promising and pledges to go and group learners according to different abilities, so that the weak one can be supported by those who are able to support them.
Oyuru Lawrence, Headteacher of Abele P.7, blamed parents and learners for withdrawing from school activities even before the official start of the teachers’ strike. He expressed concern that parents need to be sensitized, so that once teachers resume duty, learners can return promptly to continue their education.
Meanwhile, Commenting on the recently released mock examination results, Florence Oyela, Headteacher of Ajaga Primary School, called for a mindset change among parents to reduce the number of learners scoring in Division X, which indicates failure. She stressed that parental involvement and support are crucial to improving academic performance.
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