In a noteworthy revelation during the release of the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results on Thursday, Dan Odongo, the Executive Director of the Uganda Examinations Board (UNEB), announced a significant decrease in the number of learners who registered for the examination but failed to appear on the examination day. Last year's examination witnessed the lowest absentee rate in the past five examination cycles.
Out of the 749,254 candidates registered for the examination, only 1.6 percent, totaling 12,323 pupils, did not appear for the exam. This indicates a positive shift from the 2022 cycle, which experienced a sharp increase in absentees at 2.5 percent of the registered candidates.
The reasons for absenteeism varied, including illness or incapacity, refusal by school authorities due to unpaid fees balances, and instances of arriving late at the examination center. Despite the reduction, Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports, expressed satisfaction but acknowledged that the figure of over 12,000 absentee candidates remains substantial.
Wakiso district recorded the highest number of absentees, with 850 candidates out of 65,081 registered candidates failing to show up, followed by Kampala with 382 candidates and Kayunga with 256 candidates. Conversely, Kaberamaido and Kalangala had the lowest absentee rates, with only one candidate absent in each district.
However, amid the positive news, the Minister of Education and Sports voiced concern over the declining number of boys completing primary education in Uganda. Despite the country's efforts to achieve gender parity in access to primary education, UNEB statistics revealed that more girls are completing the primary education cycle. The gender gap has persisted for the last seven years, prompting the Minister to call for solutions to address the underlying causes of the decline in boys' completion rates.
While the focus has historically been on girls' education, the Minister emphasized the importance of understanding the context and prescribing solutions to ensure all children, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to complete their primary education. The latest statistics highlight a complex issue that demands targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by boys in the education system.
