The Primary Leaving Examination results released on Thursday have seen boys outshine girls, the Nile Post reports.
The results released indicate that 41604 boys which is 13 percent passed in division one compared to 35,529 (10.5%) who passed in the same division whereas 42.7% of the boys compared to 40.6% of the girls passed in division two.
This indicated that the overall pass level for boys was higher than that of their female counterparts.
The results also indicated an increase in the total number of candidates sitting for PLE from 646190 in 2017 to 671923 in 2018.
The number of centres from where candidates sit for the PLE exams also increased.
By gender, more girls(346963 (51.6%) compared to boys at 324963 representing a 48.3 percentage.
According to officials from UNEB, there was improvement in English, Social studies and integrated science whereas performance in mathematics improved at distinction level but there was a decline at credit and overall pass level.
3500 candidates’ results withheld
According to UNEB chairperson Mary Okwakol, results for 3500 candidates have been withheld due to suspicion of involvement in exam malpractice.
“Although the examinations were conducted smoothly, cases of malpractices were reported. These were mainly cases of external assistance given to candidates by third parties inside examination rooms,”Okwakol said.
She revealed that security operatives found teachers in five schools in Bundibugyo writing answers on the blackboards for candidates to cop0y.0
“The schools are reported to have collected shs50,000 from each candidate to facilitate this malpractice.”
Okwakol however noted that these cases and many others are awaiting a court action before announcing the next course of action.