By Brian Atuhura
Masindi District has recorded a decline in Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) performance,with the overall pass rate dropping from 92 percent in 2024 to 88.7 percent in 2025, according to results released yesterday.
The results were officially announced by the Acting District Education Officer, Monica Kiiza, while addressing stakeholders in the district council chambers.
Kiiza revealed that a total of 3,306 candidates from 75 registered examination centres were registered to sit the 2025 PLE.Of these,156 candidates attained Division one, representing 4.72 percent,while 1,678 pupils obtained Division Two(50.8 percent). Division Three was attained by 774 candidates (23.4 percent),325 pupils scored Division Four (9.8 percent),349 candidates failed the examinations (10.6 percent),and 24 pupils (0.7 percent)did not sit for the exams.
Despite the general decline, several schools posted strong performances.
The top ten performing schools in the district were led by Walyoba Brilliant primary school with an average score of 3.8 points, followed by Ebenezer primary school and Marylyne primary school,both with 3.7 points.Lord Will primary school ranked fourth with 3.3 points, Walyoba C.O.U primary school came fifth with 3.2 points,and Blessed Damian primary school placed sixth with 3.2 points.God's Will primary school, Kinyara Sugar Works primary school,Bulima Valley primary school,and Kinumi primary school completed the top ten with scores ranging between 3.1 and 3.0 points.
Among government aided schools, Walyoba C.O.U primary school emerged the best with 3.2 points,followed by Kinyara Sugar Works primary school (3.1points),while Nyabyeya and Kinumi primary schools both scored 3.0 points.Walyoba C.O.U was also ranked the best government aided primary school in the Bunyoro Sub-Region.
At individual level,Aijuka Mujuni Jonathan of Walyoba C.O.U primary school topped the district with 6 aggregates,alongside Mateeka Raymond of Walyoba Brilliant primary school and Atim Irene of Ebenezer primary school,who also scored 6 aggregates.Ahumuza Ruth from Kayera primary school followed with 7 aggregates,while Kyomugisa Brenda and Kusasira Victoria Judith,both from Kinyara Sugar Works primary school,also scored 7 aggregates.Kato Raymond,Atandeka Melisha and Obiyoma Benjamin,all from Ebenezer primary school,each attained 7 aggregates, completing the list of the top nine candidates.
However, several schools registered poor performance.The lowest ranked schools included Karungi primary school, Nyakarongo,Kihoole, Kimanya Upper, Kisalizi, Kimanya and Kyabaswa primary school,with average scores ranging between 1.3 and 0.8 points.
Kiiza attributed the decline in performance to inadequate staffing in the schools, misinterpretation of education policies, industrial action,low teacher commitment,poor syllabus coverage and weak teaching methodologies.
Addressing headteachers,the Chief Administrative Officer, Samuel Ruhweza Kaija,urged school administrators to benchmark from top performing schools and adopt best practices to reverse the downward trend .He also called upon parents, education managers and other stakeholders to support learners if the district is to improve it's overall academic performance.