The ministry of education has released the 2015 O Level results indicating a slight improvement in performance compared to 2014. According to the UNEB Secretary Matthew Bukenya, more students passed in division 1, 2, and 3.
He says Biology and Agriculture were the worst done subjects, while for Physics and Chemistry, 60% of the candidates failed because they could not comprehend the questions.
The girls excelled in English and CRE while boys performed generally well in all subjects. The high failure rate in Math and Science subjects has been blamed on the shortage of science teachers especially in rural schools which has also been cited as one of the factors that affected the setting up of apparatus.
Meanwhile results of 2,060 candidates in 86 centers have been withheld. This figure is up from the 1,900 results held in 2014 over alleged malpractice. UNEB secretary Matthew Bukenya says the highest cases of malpractice were registered in Math and Sciences. He cites Boston High school in Entebbe which has had two cases of impersonation that are being investigated. Bukenya also notes that Elnino rains affected movement of supervisors and examination material in many parts of the country.
Earlier, UNEB chairperson Prof Mary Okwakol announced that the gap between the female and the male candidates had finally closed. She also noted an improvement in the passes.
While officially releasing the results Education Minister Jessica Alupo has condemned in the strongest terms the growing trend of exam malpractice. She says government is in the process of amending the UNEB Act to provide for punitive measures against those who abate such crimes.
Alupo however noted an improvement in candidate enrollment which he attributes to the government’s Universal Primary Education Program. She has also commended the Uganda National Examinations Board for releasing the UCE results 3 weeks earlier than planned.
Story By Dianah
