Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Education Minister Hon. Janet Museveni released the 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results. Performance improved compared to 2022, but challenges persist in science subjects. The failure rate dropped by 0.5%, allowing 95.9% of learners to progress to post-UCE levels.
Female candidates excelled in English, while males performed better in History, Geography, Sciences, and Commerce. In Chemistry, males had higher grades, but more females passed overall. This gender performance trend in subjects is a long-standing observation.
Concerningly, less than 20% achieved Credit pass levels in Physics and Chemistry, with over 40% unable to pass. Biology, however, showed an improvement despite a previous decline.
The disparity in science subject performance is attributed to inadequate teaching, lack of practical teaching, and reported cases of schools lacking science teachers. Exam malpractices are often noted in practical papers.
UNEB also runs an exam center at Luzira Prisons, where 58 candidates (51 males, 8 females) sat for the UCE. Notably, 6 males passed in Division 1, 14 in Division 2, 24 (21 males, 3 females) in Division 3, 13 (10 males, 3 females) in Division 4, and 1 female failed.
UNEB Chairperson Prof. Celestino Obua addressed misinformation surrounding the 2023 PLE results, refuting claims of selective grading favoring upcountry schools. Social media circulated allegedly debunked marks from 2018 to support baseless allegations. Statistics show no bias, with nearly 60% of candidates scoring the top grade from Kampala and surrounding schools. Obua highlighted the challenge of discerning motives behind the misinformation.
Just in! #UCE2023 results Released by the Hon Minister of @Educ_SportsUg Mama @JanetMuseveni at State House Nakasero. pic.twitter.com/bsunlE3SyZ
— Uganda National Examinations Board (@UNEB_UG) February 15, 2024
Pictorial: As it went down during the release of #UCE2023 results at State House Nakasero.
Congratulations to all the candidates who have passed the examinations; the teachers that prepared them and the parents and guardians for their support. pic.twitter.com/XYfSFOwYIm
— Uganda National Examinations Board (@UNEB_UG) February 15, 2024
