Following the recent Senior One selection exercise in Kampala, where a total of 515,160 candidates were admitted to various schools, approximately 133,502 students who passed the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) find themselves without admission to any secondary school.
Dr. Jane Egau, chairperson of the selection committee, attributed this situation to limited spaces in participating schools. She highlighted the need for a survey to determine the capacity of all schools to better manage admissions in the future.
The unadmitted students are encouraged to seek admission in private schools and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. Dr. Egau emphasized that the selection process aims to accommodate all qualified candidates.
Traditionally prestigious schools admitted a limited number of students, with most admitting between Aggregate Four and 12. Private schools, despite having vacancies, weren’t filled through the selection process, leaving many hopeful candidates without placements.
Mr. Hasadu Kirabira, chairperson of the National Private Education Institutions Association (NPEIA), criticized the government’s selection process, advocating for fairness in admissions. He assured readiness among private institutions to absorb the unplaced students.
Dr. Egau advised non-selected candidates to consider TVET options, which offer various hands-on skills programs. She assured that TVETs have the capacity to accommodate all PLE graduates.
However, concerns have been raised about the consequences of denying admission to a large number of students. Mr. Filbert Bates Baguma, Secretary General of the Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu), emphasized the government’s responsibility in adequately planning for all candidates to prevent dropout rates and ensure access to education.
