The selection exercise for senior one students has kicked off, with high cut off points that are likely to see many students miss out on being admitted in the schools of their choice.
The head teachers of the various schools say the points have been hiked because more pupils passed in division one in last year’s Primary Leaving Exams, though many more failed.
Schools such as Gayaza high school have put their cut off points at 5 aggregates, Namilyango college 5 points, Mengo secondary school 6 points and Kings College Buddo college 4points for boys and 5 for girls.
Lubiri high school is stopping at 9 points, Trinity College Nabingo 6, while Ndejje high school is stopping at 6 points for boys and 7 points for girls. Some of the schools under the Universal Secondary Education are however going up to 28 points.
In Northern Uganda, Abim secondary school is taking students up to 28 points, while Oriajin secondary school in Arua is going up to 26 points.
In Western Uganda, Kitagata secondary school in Bushenyi is going up to 11 points for boys and 15 points for girls.
Speaking at the beginning of the exercise, the director for basic secondary education in the ministry of education Dr. Yusuf Nsubuga appealed to the head teachers of the various schools to be humane in choosing pupils.
He noted that some of pupils who did not excel in PLE could perform better if given a chance.
Dr. Nsubuga also underscored the need for career guidance in the choice of schools, saying many pupils opt for schools that are at the same level, limiting their chances of admission.
