School heads have converged at UMA Showground Lugogo for a two-day Senior Five placement exercise, marking the first selection under Uganda’s new lower secondary curriculum.
Unlike the old system, where top schools prioritized students with multiple distinctions, this year’s placement focuses on how students performed in specific subjects under the new grading system.
At King’s College Budo, one of Uganda’s top schools, Deputy Headteacher Godfrey Kasamba revealed that they received a list of 150 students, with the lowest-scoring learner having 7 As and 2 Bs.
This reflects a shift towards subject-specific excellence rather than an overall grade-based selection.
“All students will be given combinations in subjects where they scored As. Since there is a strong focus on sciences today, many of the students we receive opt for science combinations, unlike in the past,” Kasamba said.
Budo had over 2,903 applicants who listed it as their first choice but could only admit 150 students, leaving the rest to be placed in other schools.
For Karungu Seed Secondary School in Buhweju District, the selection process is less restrictive. Headteacher Natamba Eliasaph emphasized that his school is prioritizing student potential over elite academic performance.
“We are admitting students with grades from A to D. As long as a learner qualifies for a subject combination, we believe our teachers can help weaker students improve and achieve better grades,” Natamba stated.
While top schools focus on high-achieving students, other institutions are emphasizing subject-specific performance and ensuring that students are placed in combinations where they can excel.
The ongoing selection process demonstrates how schools are adapting to the new curriculum’s emphasis on subject mastery rather than overall grade accumulation.