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Namayanja: The results from the exams administered to teachers revealed that a lot was still desired in some teachers if learners were to pass PLE
Nakaseke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement Rosemary Namayanja has backed the LCV Chairman or administering exams to teachers.
Recently Nakaseke district demoted four headteachers to classroom teachers over the poor performance of their candidates in the Primary Leaving Examination in 2023.
The Nakaseke District LCV Chairman Ignatius Koomu also administered mock exams to 52 classroom teachers to test their competency to teach candidates to pass the Primary Leaving Examinations. The results released by Koomu indicated that the poorest performing teacher scored 27 marks whereas the highest got 92 marks in their subjects.
Despite criticisms from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Public Service Commission and Uganda National Teachers Union among other stakeholders, on Monday Koomu issued the targets for 2024 ahead of Primary Leaving Examinations.
Koomu said that headteachers and teachers must ensure that at least 90% of candidates who sit PLE in their schools this year pass or else they face the same administrative actions.
Koomu added that the teachers who fail to pass the exams will undergo refresher courses and those who fail to improve will be returned to the District Service Commission to defend themselves why they shouldn’t be dismissed.
Silvester Ssemujju the headteacher of St Kizito Kijjaguzo Primary School said that the pressure is bearing fruit and they expect better PLE results in subsequent years.
“The strategy is checking on the teachers and headteachers’ commitment to deliver results. Currently, we are under pressure to teach so that candidates pass PLE” Ssemujju said.
Rosemary Namayanja Nsereko, the Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement-NRM party said that Koomu’s fight for better education grades is justifiable and the teachers are key stakeholders in ensuring that learners achieve them.
Namayanja added that the government has significantly contributed to the education sector since the National Resistance Army war that ravaged the district ended in 1986. Still, some teachers have let it down, which Koomu seeks to address.
Namayanja added that the results from the exams administered to teachers revealed that a lot was still desired in some teachers if learners were to pass PLE.
Namayanja said that Koomu’s strategies are from his background as a former teacher and supports uplifting the education standards in the area.
While meeting children and their parents sponsored under her Foundation at her home located in Bukakala village in Semuto sub-county on Monday, Namayanja unveiled an academic trophy that will be won by the best Universal Primary Education school in PLE in the year 2024.
Namayanja added that through her Foundation, all UPE Schools in Nakaseke will receive free pass PLE papers published by newspapers to prepare the learners ahead of the exams.
Namayanja through her Foundation currently offers bursaries to 120 children in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.
According to the PLE results for 2023 for Nakaseke, 604 candidates (12.9%) passed in the first division, 2,706 candidates (57.9%) in the second division, 728 candidates (15.6%) in the third division, and 361 candidates (7.7%) in Division four.
The results indicate that 276 candidates (5.6%) failed and 138 candidates (2.9%) of 4813 candidates that registered didn’t sit the examinations in 2023.
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