(Kampala) – The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has reported a smooth start to the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), with the first day of exams largely successful. Jeniffer Kalule, the principal communications officer for UNEB, highlighted that candidates across the country arrived on time, and examination materials were distributed as expected.
Of the 798,771 candidates sitting for the exams, 379,414 are male, representing 47.4% of the total, while 419,357 are female. Among these candidates, a significant portion, 524,690 (66.7%), are from Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools.
However, the day was not without incident. In Wakiso district, one candidate collapsed and was rushed to a nearby health facility. Fortunately, the student was able to return after receiving medical attention, though the Mathematics paper had already ended. UNEB spokesperson Kalule reassured the public that the candidate would be allowed to sit for the remaining papers and may be given the opportunity to retake the missed one if necessary.
For the 3,295 special needs candidates, UNEB has made necessary accommodations. These candidates will be given an extra 45 minutes to complete their exams. Braille answer sheets are available for blind candidates, large print papers for those with low vision, and sign language interpreters for the deaf. Students with dyslexia or writing challenges will have transcribers available to assist them.
UNEB has also deployed 13,000 scouts across the country to monitor the progress of the exams. In addition, 600 security personnel, including undercover officers, have been assigned to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the examinations.
| Statistic | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of candidates | 798,771 | 100% |
| Male candidates | 379,414 | 47.4% |
| Female candidates | 419,357 | 52.6% |
| UPE candidates | 524,690 | 66.7% |
| Special needs candidates | 3,295 | – |
| Special needs candidates (female) | 1,677 | – |
