By Naome Namusoke/ KMA Updates
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results, revealing an increase in the number of candidates and a slight improvement in performance at the highest level, despite challenges linked to the transition to competency-based assessment.
According to UNEB, a total of 817,883 candidates registered for the 2025 PLE from 15,388 examination centres across the country. This marks an increase from 797,444 candidates in 2024. Of the total number registered this year, 522,036 candidates from 11,525 centres were funded under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 295,847 candidates from 3,863 centres were privately sponsored or non-UPE learners.
Speaking during the release of the results, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo noted that boys performed better than girls overall and recorded a lower failure rate. He also highlighted that examiners commended the quality of this year’s examination papers, saying they aligned with the competency-based curriculum and effectively tested learners’ ability to apply knowledge and practical skills.
Odongo, however, raised concerns that some teachers—particularly those handling Social Studies and Religious Education—have not fully adapted to the competency-based approach. As a result, many candidates struggled with questions that required them to apply knowledge to real-life situations within their communities and the country at large. This contributed to weaker performance in the two subjects compared to 2024.
He further warned against the use of last-minute revision materials circulated by informal “examination bureaus,” saying they misled candidates and negatively affected their preparation. Odongo urged schools and teachers to focus on comprehensive learning throughout the academic year rather than relying on prediction-based materials.
UNEB Chairperson Celestino Obua said the steady rise in candidature reflects growing access to primary education across the country. He noted that absenteeism has remained stable at 1.3 percent for the past two years but emphasized that every child who drops out of school remains a concern to the board and other education stakeholders.
Obua added that a higher number of learners attained Grade One results this year, and more candidates qualified to progress to the next level of education compared to 2024. He expressed confidence that the successful candidates will be absorbed into secondary and vocational institutions as the government continues to expand education access.
He also revealed that UNEB will maintain its practice of conducting annual item analysis to monitor learner proficiency and assess the effectiveness of the competency-based curriculum. Findings from these assessments, he said, indicate that teachers need additional training to better interpret the curriculum and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.
Obua disclosed that UNEB has already extended targeted support to teachers in two low-performing local governments and plans to scale up similar interventions to other areas, subject to the availability of funding.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the overall improvement in top-level performance but continue to stress the need for sustained teacher training, improved learning resources, and stronger community involvement to ensure learners fully benefit from the evolving curriculum reforms.
