Causes of difference between primary leaving examinations performance and primary schools in Bushenyi-Ishaka town council

Abstract

The study identifies causes of difference in Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) performance in Bushenyi-Ishaka Town Council. Primary Leaving Examinations are set by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and mark the end of primary level education. PLE results are a yard stick of performance for individual pupils and schools. The study was therefore about identifying the causes of difference in performance in PLE despite the governments’ intervention to provide the basic and necessary materials to facilitate the primary education.

Both qualitative and quantitative techniques of research methods were employed by the researcher. Three methods (interviews of the respondents, focused group discussions and observation) were employed to collect data from respondents. Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages using Statistical Programme for Social Scientists (SPSS) were adopted for various analyses.

Accordingly, the findings of the study reveal that difference in performance is a result of the quality of school administration and supervision, availability of infrastructure and scholastic materials, the commitment of teachers to their teaching obligations, and the contribution of the parents and management committees.

In the conclusion, the study presents that there is a lacuna in primary education in Uganda particularly within the system of the Universal Primary Education which the government needs to rectify to achieve the objectives of UPE and value for money invested. The study recommends the need for all stakeholders in Universal Primary Education to work together and remove the bottlenecks in order to improve the quality of Primary Education in Uganda.