Dokolo District||Uganda| A total of 539 Primary Seven candidates in Dokolo District will not be registered for the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) after failing to meet the required standards in pre-registration assessments, district education officials have confirmed.
According to officials from the Dokolo District Education Department, the affected pupils were graded Division U, indicating a lack of basic competence in key subjects assessed during the pre-registration exams conducted earlier this term. Officials Defend Decision District education authorities say the move is aimed at improving overall academic performance and ensuring that only adequately prepared candidates sit for the national examinations.
“We cannot continue to present learners who are not ready for national assessments. This intervention is intended to build a stronger academic foundation,” a senior district education official noted. The officials emphasized that the decision was reached after careful evaluation of learners’ abilities, with a focus on maintaining standards and improving the district’s PLE performance record.
Over 2,900 Candidates Qualify Despite the exclusions, more than 2,900 Primary Seven candidates in the district successfully met the registration requirements and will proceed to sit for the 2026 PLE. Education stakeholders say this reflects a relatively strong cohort, although concerns remain about the significant number of learners who failed to qualify.
Affected Pupils to Repeat Primary Six Authorities confirmed that the 539 affected learners will be required to repeat Primary Six to strengthen their academic competencies before attempting to sit for PLE in the future. Some parents and community members have expressed mixed reactions to the decision. While some support the district’s efforts to improve academic standards, others are concerned about the psychological and social impact on the affected pupils.
Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders Education observers note that such measures, though controversial, are increasingly being adopted in some districts to address declining performance in national exams. “It’s a tough decision, but if handled well, it can help learners build confidence and competence rather than face failure at the national level,” an education analyst commented.
However, critics argue that the approach may disadvantage vulnerable learners and call for more supportive interventions such as remedial teaching and continuous assessment. Call for Support Measures Stakeholders are now urging the district to complement the decision with targeted academic support programs, including holiday coaching, teacher mentorship, and parental involvement, to help struggling learners catch up.
The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), administered annually by the Uganda National Examinations Board, is a key milestone in Uganda’s education system, determining progression to secondary school. More updates to follow as the situation develops across Lango sub-region.
