GIRLS DEFEAT BOYS IN 2017 UACE WITH A GENERAL RECORD OF POOR PEFORMANCE

By; Jjunju Francis and Ben Musanje

The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) has released 2017 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education UACE with a poor performance compared to last year although at the over role level female candidates trounced their male counterparts.

Higher failure rate were among the Universal Secondary School (USE) students compared to those in private schools.

Out of a total of 10,066 candidates who sat for exams 6,085 candidates under the Universal Post O-level Education and Training Program (UPOLET) were able to obtain three principal passes compared to 28,734 candidates who obtained three principal passes in private schools.

A total of 16,213 girls representing 39 percent scored three principle passes compared to 18,606 boys representing 31.8 percent who scored three principles passes.

At least 34,819 candidates got three principle passes, 24,122 got two principal passes, those with one principle pass were 22,360 those with a subsidiary are 15,545 while a total of 1,141 failed.

Exams of 79 candidates have been withheld from 24 examination centers over exam malpractice.

The best done subjects were Economics, Entrepreneurship while English Physic Biology Religious education where slightly done History, Geography and Mathematics were poorly done and Sciences trailed.

According to UNEB secretary General Dan Odongo the poor performance is due to lack of enough preparations and required human resource.

The State Minster for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo says girls and boys are equal that all private and government schools should prioritize supporting both sexes in taking science subjects.

Wakiso has been ranked as the best performing district in the 2017 (UACE) exams with 8,538 candidates who got three principal passes, followed by Kampala with 34,931 candidates who passed with three principal passes. Mukono District comes third with 3,226 candidates while Buikwe had 1,006 candidates with three principal

passes.

The worst performing district are Nakapiripirit, Napak, Kotido, Buvuma and Dokolo.

Meanwhile The Chairman UNEB Prof. Mary Okwakor was not happy with the persistent criticism to UNEB for holding results of students proved to have cheated saying UNEB has the duty of ensuring the quality of education and avoid quarks in professional lines who will compromised the image of human resource of the country.