Ministry of Education releases the Uganda certificate of Education results indicating a slight decline in performance compared to the previous year 2015.The drop is attributed to poor performance in English Language, mathematics and sciences.

There was better performance by non USE candidates in Christian Religious Education, Geography, mathematics, Agriculture and Art showed at Distinction level.

Biology had a significant improvement at the credit and overall pass- level compared to 2015.The worst performed science subject is physics.
UNEB secretary General Dan Odong presented the Examination to the education minister

Over all male candidates performed better at all the higher grades than their female counterparts. However female candidates performed better than males in English language and in Christian Religious Education.

Last year, 23,489 students passed in Division I, 44,307 passed in Division II, 63,072 passed in Division III, 142,479 passed in Division IV while 41,632 were ungraded.

In 2015, 25,750 passed in Division I, 74,392 (Division II), 144,805 (Division III), 274,863 (Division IV) while 304,456 candidates were ungraded.

The examinations body said 323,276 candidates registered but 316,624 showed up for the exams. It also says in 2016, 41,632 students failed, 23,489 passed in Division one, 44,307 division two, 63,072 division three and 142,479 division `four while results of 1,893 students are withheld for examination malpractice

UNEB Executive Secretary Mr. Daniel Odongo, said examiners realized that students find it difficult in the use of correct grammar, spelling, tenses and punctuations while writing English compositions.

He said some teachers make students cram passages from books, making learners to reproduce text book answers when responding to questions requiring imaginative composition.

He said despite efforts by the Ministry of Education to avail laboratory chemicals and equipment, there is still evidence of theoretical teaching of sciences in most schools.

“Students experienced problems in handling apparatus during practical tests and found difficulty with questions requiring explanation,” he said.

Education Minister Janet Museveni notes the need for collective supervisory efforts by all stake holders to ensure better performance. She said Uganda’s greatest challenge is improving the quality of education to empower learners with skills needed in the world of work.

“Regrettably, teaching is geared to passing exams. Teachers no longer assess their students,” she said.

She also discourages mock tests saying that these tests take a lot of time for students to prepare for the final exams and are only geared at making students cram without understanding. Kataha says that teachers no longer vary out assessments of their own students and are longer able to discover the learning difficulties of these students.