Traditional schools maintain high senior one cut off points, ministry warns against talk of UNEB undermarking

By Richard Olwenyi

The leading secondary schools have maintained a tight cut off points up for senior one selections that started today regardless of poor 2018 PLE performance by some traditional “big” primary schools. The school heads are looking elsewhere for best performers.

The big secondary schools have maintained their cut off points from aggregate 4- 5, and a very few have scaled down further to aggregate 6.

The State Minister for Education Rosemary Seninde who launched the selection exercise warned some big city schools blaming their poor performance to the examination body UNEB.

Seninde accused these teachers of not teaching their students professionally encouraging rote learning instead of comprehension. She did not have kind words for parents who pay high fees for extra coaching during holidays and on weekends and this puts pressure on the schools to deliver value for money. Inevitably this leads to attempts at exam malpractice.

The minister denied claims that UNEB had undermarked some schools.

Uganda Manufacturers Association premises in Lugogo was again a beehive of activity as Senior One students’ selection 2019 starts. Most school heads from all the regions of the country were available to pick only those students who managed to score their set aggregates.

Traditional big name schools have maintained their cut off points for admission to senior one high regardless of a decline in performance in 2018 primary leaving examinations.

Big schools such as Kings College Buddo is taking only 4 -5 aggregates, Nabisunsa girls from 4-5, Namiliango college 4-6, Namagunga 4-5 girls.

For secondary schools looking ahead to admit new students in senior one, the Ministry of Education has banned any increment of school fees without the approval of the ministry.

The acting Permanent Secretary Aggrey Kibenge says any schools that wish to raise school fees must first apply to the ministry.

Government will now use new ICT tracking system also launched today to net lazy teachers teaching unprofessional and absconding duty.