2023 UCE Results and Senior Five Admission Trends
The Minister of Education, Janet Museveni, received the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results for 2023 from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Executive Director, Dan Ondongo, at State House, Nakasero in Kampala on February 15, 2024. The full details of the cut-off points for admission to Senior Five will be disclosed after a two-day selection process scheduled for February 26 and 27 at the Uganda Manufacturers’ Association (UMA)-Hall in Lugogo, Kampala.
Traditionally high-performing schools in Uganda are expected to raise their cut-off points for Senior Five admission this year due to a slightly better performance in the 2023 UCE examinations. This adjustment is likely to intensify competition among bright students aiming for admission into these prestigious institutions. Conversely, schools in rural areas, which generally performed worse than their urban counterparts, may lower their admission requirements to attract more students.
In the previous year, institutions like Kings College Budo and Mt St Mary’s Namagunga set high entry points, with stringent requirements such as Aggregate 10 for boys and Aggregate 11 for girls. St Mary’s College, Kisubi, is anticipated to raise its entry bar from Aggregate 12 to Aggregate 11 based on insider information. Similarly, Teso College Aloet’s head teacher, Mr. Julius Opasso, emphasized the importance of specific subject combinations for admission, particularly in science-oriented schools.
The release of the UCE results highlighted improvements in performance across large entry subjects, except for History, Agriculture, and Physics. However, a persistent challenge remains in science subjects, with less than 20 percent of candidates achieving credit pass levels in Physics and Chemistry. This deficiency is attributed to various factors including a shortage of science teachers, inadequate mastery of basic scientific concepts by learners, and a lack of practical teaching methods.
Out of the 361,695 candidates who sat for the UCE exams at 3,808 centers, 329,939 passed with Division One to Division Four grades, representing a pass rate of 95.9 percent. The number of candidates passing in Division One increased significantly compared to the previous year, indicating overall improvement in performance. However, the preference for admitting students with higher grades, particularly Divisions One and Two, remains prevalent among many schools.
Despite the high pass rate, a considerable number of candidates still face challenges, with 14,879 failing the exams. Nevertheless, this represents a slight improvement from the previous year, suggesting efforts to address academic deficiencies.
The selection process, slated for February 26 and 27, will determine the final cut-off points for Senior Five admission. Schools, both government and private, will participate in this exercise, guided by the Ministry of Education. Eligible Senior Five entrants are expected to report to school on March 11, marking the beginning of their secondary education journey.
