By Kabuye Ronald
High Sound for Children (HSC), a non-profit dedicated to promoting child rights and development through media in Uganda, has expressed deep concern over the emphasis on grades following the release of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results. While the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) reported an overall improvement in performance, there was a slight decline in the number of candidates achieving first-grade results.
A total of 786,981 students sat for the PLE, with 722,730 passing the exams, allowing them to move on to secondary or tertiary education. However, 64,251 candidates were ungraded and unable to progress. The number of students earning Division One grades fell from 86,582 in 2023 to 84,301 in 2024, a decrease of nearly 2%. The majority of students fell into Division Two (397,589), followed by Division Three (165,284) and Division Four (75,556).
Ivan Senabulya, the media and communications officer at High Sound for Children in a statement said this year’s results have caused disappointment among schools, parents, and learners, reflecting the intense pressure placed on children to meet high expectations.
“High Sound for Children is particularly concerned about the psychological toll of these pressures, with many children suffering from diminished self-esteem and mental health crises. Tragically, the suicide of 16-year-old Abdurahim Rusiba from Wakiso District in January 2024 is a stark reminder of the urgent need to reconsider how children’s academic progress is measured and supported.” Read a statement in parts
HSC commended UNEB’s shift towards emphasizing proficiency and comprehension over rote memorization, encouraging students to understand and apply their learning. This approach aims to foster critical thinking and long-term learning, rather than focusing on short-term academic success.
In response to the current trends, HSC made several recommendations:
- Children should not be judged solely by exam scores but by their ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations.
- Schools should stop rejecting students with low aggregates and instead focus on supporting struggling learners to improve and thrive.
- Media outlets should adopt more ethical reporting practices that reflect the diversity of learners’ experiences and abilities, moving beyond a focus on top scorers.
- The government must offer alternative educational programs to support the 64,251 ungraded candidates, helping them develop new skills and improve their future prospects.
- Parents should celebrate their children’s efforts, regardless of whether they achieve Division One grades, and guide them to identify their unique strengths.
HSC congratulated all students who sat for the 2024 PLE, celebrating both successes and progress, and encourages those who didn’t meet expectations to focus on learning from their experiences. The organization also thanked parents, schools, and the government for their continued dedication to shaping the future of Uganda’s children.
