KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) on Thursday released the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s education sector.
According to UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo, a total of 797,444 candidates from 14,883 centers registered for the examination, marking a 6.4% increase from the previous year. This significant increase in candidature is attributed to the government’s efforts to promote education and increase access to schools.
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The results indicate a notable improvement in performance, with 91.8% of candidates passing, compared to 88% in 2023. However, despite this improvement, the results also reveal a decline in the number of candidates scoring high grades. The percentage of candidates scoring Division One decreased from 15.2% in 2023 to 13.4% in 2024.
In terms of gender, the results show a significant increase in the number of female candidates, with 52.5% of the registered candidates being girls. This trend is consistent with the government’s efforts to promote girls’ education and empower women in Uganda. However, despite this increase, the results also reveal a persistent gap in performance between male and female candidates. In English, for example, 5.1% of female candidates scored Division One, compared to 4.6% of male candidates.
#ReleaseOfResultsPLE2024:@JanetMuseveni is officiating at the release of 2024 PLE Results by @UNEB_UG.
797,444 candidates (47.5% male, 52.5% female) were registered. 65.7% total candidature is from Universal Primary Education (UPE). 2024 performance was better than 2023. pic.twitter.com/TVm5DhW1oq
— Dennis Mugimba (@DeKaMug) January 23, 2025
The results also provide valuable insights into the performance of special needs learners.
UNEB registered 3,328 learners with special needs, indicating a 25.5% increase from 2023. The board also noted an increase in the number of prison inmates registering for the examination, with 71 candidates from Luzira Prison and 37 from Bara Prison.
At the Uganda Government Upper @UgandaPrisons School, Luzira, 71 candidates were registered as compared to the 69 registered in 2023. Of the 71 candidates who
registered, 59 candidates sat, 4 passed in Division 1, 36 obtained Division 2, 13 obtained Division 3 #PLE2024 pic.twitter.com/zg9rIBVp82— Uganda National Examinations Board (@UNEB_UG) January 23, 2025
The examination was conducted smoothly, with minimal disruptions reported across the country. However, the board noted that some schools had registered normal pupils as special needs candidates to gain extra time. “We have discovered that some schools have been registering their good pupils as special needs candidates to benefit from the extra time,” Odongo said. “We will take measures to address this fraud.”
The results were released at State House, Nakasero, and presided over by high-ranking government officials, including the Minister of Education and Sports.
Candidates can access their results via SMS and online portals. The Ministry of Education and Sports also live-streamed the event on its official platforms, allowing the public to follow proceedings in real-time.
Results will be uploaded on the examination centre Portals. Each school can, therefore, download their results as soon as they are officially released. #PLE2024 pic.twitter.com/6Yrv6wO0BA
— Uganda National Examinations Board (@UNEB_UG) January 23, 2025
However, despite the improvements noted in the results, the education sector still faces significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of qualified teachers, and disparities in access to education.
To address these challenges, the government has pledged to increase investment in the education sector, with a focus on improving infrastructure, increasing access to schools, and promoting inclusive education. The government has also launched initiatives aimed at promoting teacher training and development, as well as improving the overall quality of education.
UNEB has also released a detailed report on the examination process, including the registration of candidates, the administration of the examination, and the marking and grading of scripts. The report provides valuable insights into the examination process and identifies areas for improvement.
