The recently released results of the Uganda Quran Schools (UQSA) Islamic Primary Leaving Examinations (IPLE) indicate that all girls who sat for the exams excelled, marking a notable achievement in the academic landscape. The results, disclosed by UQSA Secretary General Dr. Harun Jjemba, revealed a decline in overall performance compared to the previous year, with only 58.1% of boys passing. However, Dr. Jjemba highlighted the positive outcome of girls’ outstanding success.
Dr. Jjemba, addressing the media at Tal Cottages in Rubaga, Kampala, noted that despite the decline, girls’ performance was a blessing, emphasizing the rarity of such an accomplishment in previous years. The IPLE assesses students in four subjects, with Quran recitation witnessing a significant improvement, emerging as the best-performed subject.
According to Dr. Jjemba, the enhanced performance in Quran recitation can be attributed to clear and understandable exam settings and teachers ensuring students could accurately transcribe their Quranic memorization. Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) ranked as the second-best subject, followed by Tarubiyyah (Islamic ethics, history, and traditions of the prophets).
However, Lughatul Arabiyyah (Arabic language and grammar) saw lower performance levels, with Dr. Jjemba attributing this to many schools not using Arabic in classrooms, despite the exams being set in Arabic.
In total, 6,343 pupils participated in the exams, with 3,049 achieving a first-grade score. The results included 1,761 in the second grade, 561 in the third grade, 557 in the fourth grade, and 360 ungraded, while 54 registered students did not appear for the exams.
Expressing concern, Dr. Jjemba highlighted that out of the 982 UQSA-registered schools, only 322 were registered for IPLE. He urged schools to adopt a dual curriculum for a brighter future within the Muslim community, emphasizing collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports to have the UQSA curriculum officially recognized.
Presiding over the results release, Dr. Idris Muhammad Uthman, the country director of Kuwait Direct Aid, emphasized the need to equip Arabic teachers with essential skills, citing a gap between university degrees and practical teaching skills. Dr. Uthman emphasized the role of education in fostering unity within the Muslim community in Uganda.
Addressing concerns over examination leaks, Sheikh Ishaq Kazibwe, the secretary of the Islamic Primary Leaving Examinations Board, urged schools to refrain from cheating, emphasizing the importance of producing quality graduates who can positively impact society.
Finally, Sheikh Ahmad Lukwago urged schools to use approved textbooks by UQSA, emphasizing the necessity for materials that align with the Ugandan context.
