Headteachers urged not to close doors to learners whose results are withheld

22 February 2025, 9:59 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

As the 2025 senior five placement exercise came to an end yesterday, over two thousand schools across the country were represented according to the ministry of education and sports under secretary and selection committee chairperson, Dr. Jane Egau. This was the first cohort under the new continuous assessment grading system. Commissioner Secondary Education, Ms Juliet Muzoora who represented the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, encouraged headteachers to be fruitful.

“We should emphasize being fruitful. Some of the schools use people who are not teachers to handle students but as the headteachers we would like to encourage you to look beyond the scope and the scores but look at the holistic ethical value of this child. We know school at times it can be a huddle. Speak to us, we are ready to support you. Ensure there’s a safe learning environment for learners.” She said. On the issue of indiscipline among teachers, she said the headteachers should talk to them first before requesting for their transfer. “Transfer is not the solution to indiscipline. Counsel them instead of writing to the ministry requesting for their transfers. The ministry should come in later.” she added.

cc who represented the minister of education and sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, joined the commissioner to appreciate the headteachers for participating in the exercise. “I want to thank our committee led by Dr. Jane Egau for the work well done. We have a very big reason to rejoice. According to UNEB results indicated that 98% of the learners who sat for examinations, passed and qualify to proceed to the next level of education. I will be a very happy man if you can push all of them to that level whether at senior five, technical or vocational because government needs every child of school-going age to go to an education institution, stay there until he or she has acquired the necessary skills to enable him or her to compete in the job market.” he said.

The minister cleared that learners in Universal Secondary Education (USE) are not supposed to pay because government pays for them. “I want to request all the headteachers to admit all the learners who have been selected. Don’t hike fees that sends them away from schools especially those learners in our government schools.” he said. Government gives textbooks, pays for UNEB fees for learners in USE schools. However; there’s still a need for government to add more support especially to schools in rural areas. Some headteachers raised concerns .

“My own assessment is that most children qualify more for science combination and it looks for the art combination, the number is reducing. There are some students that passed but you find it difficult to get them a combination. Say for example someone has passed physics with an A then he passes CRE with D. You find a challenge to give a combination to such a leaner. The challenge is that my envelope doesn’t have the list for transitional candidates. It gives us a problem. Yet we had students who sat under our center. The ministry should prepare themselves earlier such that we avoid such mistakes.” One headteacher said.

The headteacher of Wanyange Girls schools who doubles as the Chairperson of Association of Secondary Teachers Union Ms Deborah Basekanakyo appealed to the schools not to lockout the door to learners. She also reminded them of the big event Uganda is hosting in August 25th to 28th at Speake Resort, Munyonyo and appealed to them to pay as they agreed in their retreat that those who won’t be able to attend, they should support by giving shillings one thousand to help in the preparations.