PLE UNEB Examination Commences
The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) officially begins on Monday 7th November 2024 with the briefing of candidates countrywide at the various examination centres.
The actual writing of the papers will however take place on Tuesday November 8th and Wednesday November 9th, 2024.
The field conduct of the examination will be handled by 139 District Monitors, 12,391 Scouts, 10,356 Chief Invigilators and 33,395 Invigilators.
Several security officers are being deployed across the Country to support the exercise and ensure the security of the examination, the field officers and the candidates.
A total of 832,810 Candidates are expected to sit for this year’s PLE from 14,153 examination Centres. This is an increase of 82,999 (11.1%) from 2020. 61 of these candidates are inmates from Upper Prison School Luzira. 51.9% (432,618) of the total candidature are females while 48.1% (400,192) are males. 70.1% (583,769) are funded under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Program, while 29.9% (249,041) are non–UPE candidates.
2,316 candidates were registered to have Special Needs Education (SNE) requirements. This is an increase of 717 Candidates (44.8%). These SNE learners will be given the necessary support. UNEB will avail braille question papers and answer sheets for the blind, large print question papers for those with low vision, sign language interpreters for the deaf, and transcribers for learners with dyslexia and those with severe physical impairments (reading and writing challenges).
The SNE candidates will be allowed 45 extra minutes for each paper.
A total of 923 SNE personnel, up from 659 (40.1% increase) will be deployed to provide support.
Scouts and invigilators are encouraged to be vigilant and look out for the sensitive needs of the SNE candidates and support them appropriately. Support personnel sent by UNEB should also be accorded the necessary cooperation to enable them to render the required support to the SNE candidates.
Ntinda Office Tel: +256-417-773100, 414-286635/6/7, 289397 | Kyambogo Office Tel: +256-417-773256, 414-286173
Email: uneb@uneb.ac.ug
unebsecretariat@gmail.com
website: www.uneb.ac.ug
Our theme this year is ‘Integrity and security in the management of examinations; the health and safety of learners is a joint responsibility‘. This theme underscores the importance the Board attaches to integrity and security, as well as health and safety. Everyone involved in the conduct of this examination is asked to act with high levels of integrity to ensure malpractice is controlled and the examination is secure. We appeal to all District Inspectors of Schools to ensure that sufficient numbers of invigilators are deployed per sitting centre to ensure that the candidates are properly supervised and the SOPs for the prevention of COVID–19 and Ebola are followed in each examination room.
Heads of Centres MUST ensure that the health and safety SOPS, as provided by the Ministry of Health, are fully observed.
During Monday’s briefing head teachers should, among other things, inform the candidates of the circumstances that may lead to disqualification or cancellation of their entire results. Such situations include but are not limited to; smuggling of unauthorised material inside the examination room; copying from one another or collusion, external assistance given by teachers, invigilators or any other person; prior knowledge of examination questions; impersonation; improper behaviour like disobeying, threatening or attacking examination officials.
The Board strongly warns all persons contemplating involvement in any form of examination malpractice that they will be dealt with by the UNEB Act 2021. The public is warned that there are persons who have set up a WhatsApp group and have been collecting money purportedly to access and supply PLE question papers. Security agencies have arrested some of these, while others are on the run. There may be other desperate persons who might try to circulate what they purport to be PLE papers. Any person found doing so will be dealt with by Section 25 (1) (2) and (4) of the UNEB Act, which provides for a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment upon conviction.
Invigilators and Scouts who negligently allow malpractice to take place under their watch will be dealt with under Section 26 (1) (g), which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of five years upon conviction. So they are warned.
Members of the public with information that may lead to persons involved in suspected malpractice should call our toll free No: 0800-211-077. The informer will be protected under the Board’s Whistle Blower’s policy.
Social media was awash with rumours that the 2024 PLE had leaked one week to the start of the examination. This false story worried a lot of parents and the Candidates. However, I wish to assure the nation that no such a thing has happened and the examination is safe under adequate security.
Finally, to the candidates: We assure you that you have what it takes to pass this examination. The questions are drawn from what you have studied over the
last seven years. We encourage you not to be misled by anyone claiming to have access to the PLE questions. This may lead to the cancellation of your results.
Please remain calm, confident, follow the instructions as well as the health and safety SOPs. We pray for God’s blessing upon you and equally ask parents and well–wishers to continue praying for you as well.
As we did at the start of UCE, we now request our religious leaders to offer prayers today, Friday, tomorrow Saturday and on Sunday for the peaceful conduct of the examination as well as the health and safety of the children who will write this examination.
May God bless our candidates and those involved in the conduct of the examination, and may God bless our Country.
Dan N. Odongo
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR