By Kabuye Ronald
A total of 64,251 candidates have failed the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and are not eligible for admission to the Senior One class. However, the results also show an overall improvement in performance, with 722,730 candidates passing the exams, marking a significant increase from the 648,662 who passed in 2023.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released the results on Thursday, highlighting that a total of 84,301 candidates achieved Division 1, representing 10.7% of all students who sat for the exams. Division 2 saw the highest number of candidates with 397,589, followed by 165,284 in Division 3, and 75,556 in Division 4.
Overall, 91.8% of candidates passed the 2024 exams, a notable improvement over last year’s 88%. While there was a slight decline in the number of students securing Division 1 compared to 2023, the performance of candidates at the higher divisions, particularly Division 2 and above, has improved.

The results also revealed a gender disparity, with male candidates outperforming their female counterparts and recording a lower failure rate. However, the number of female candidates in Division 2 and lower divisions was higher, reflecting the larger number of girls who sat the exams this year.
Among special cases, the results from Luzira Upper Prison School showed that 51 candidates sat the exam, with 4 achieving Division 1, 36 in Division 2, 13 in Division 3, and 6 in Division 4. No candidates from the school were ungraded, though 12 inmates did not sit for the exam. Similarly, at Mbarara Main Prison Inmates Primary School, all candidates were male, and 4 achieved Division 1, while 20 were placed in Division 2, 10 in Division 3, and 3 in Division 4.
The improved performance overall signals progress in education despite challenges, and the results also emphasize the need to focus on sustaining and enhancing quality education for all students across the country.