Parents and teachers urged to step up ahead of PLE

11 September 2025, 08:56

By Ekel Bonny Daniel

Education leaders in Pader District are urging parents and teachers to step up efforts in preparing Primary Seven candidates, following the release of the 2025 mock examination results, which revealed high failure rates and absenteeism.

Board Secretary Okema Patrick presented the results, showing that out of 3,504 registered candidates, 1,781 (50.5%) failed, while only 94 pupils (2.7%) achieved Division I.

“These figures are a wake-up call. Teachers must redouble their efforts, and parents must play their part in ensuring that learners are well prepared,” he said.

Board Chairperson Akera Patrick echoed the concern, emphasising that the responsibility for education cannot rest solely with schools.

“Parents must take responsibility for follow-up at home. Teachers can only do so much within the classroom,” he noted.

Assistant DEO Fielder Lalam was more direct in her appeal, urging parents to stop neglecting their children’s education.

She highlighted absenteeism, weak foundations in the lower classes, and malpractice as clear indicators of poor adult guidance.

“When children miss school, fail to write their names correctly, or when malpractice occurs in schools, it all reflects failure on the part of adults, not the pupils,” she said.

Lalam recommended that teachers devote more time to revision sessions, mentor struggling pupils, and work closely with parents to address learning gaps.

She also urged parents to prioritise education over short-term economic activities, warning that failure to do so would perpetuate poverty.

Headteachers’ Association Chairperson, Justine Okello Abolo, emphasised the importance of early student development and called for teachers of lower classes to undergo regular refresher training.

“We must invest in teaching from the lower levels rather than cramming in P6 and P7. Parents should also collaborate closely with schools instead of leaving the entire burden on teachers,” he advised.

Secretary of Education Adonga Phillips Obalim reminded stakeholders that mock results should not be a cause for celebration or blame, but rather a guide for preparation.

He encouraged teachers to intensify coaching in the remaining weeks before the PLE, while parents should ensure their children attend school consistently.

Stakeholders resolved to hold sensitisation campaigns for parents on the importance of monitoring homework, supporting school attendance, and engaging with teachers.

Teachers, meanwhile, will receive refresher guidance on effective revision and examination preparation methods.

The meeting also highlighted successful schools, such as Jireh Foundation Nursery & Primary School and Mount Zion, where collaboration between teachers and parents has resulted in excellent performance, as models to emulate.

As 31 October 2025 approaches, the district has shifted focus from the disappointment of the mock results to the urgency of collective action.

“This is the time for parents and teachers to step up. Our children cannot walk into the PLE unprepared,” Lalam concluded.

The appeal reflects a growing recognition that educational outcomes are not the responsibility of schools alone, but require active family and community participation.

For Pader District, the final exam season is not just about pupils sitting in classrooms; it is about an entire community rallying behind its children.