By Ben Musanje
A calm but unmistakably firm warning echoed through the release of the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results as Education Minister and First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni put schools, media houses and parents on notice over the public exposure of children’s examination results.
Speaking at the official release of the results in State Lodge Nakasero, Mrs. Museveni reminded the nation that children’s examination data is protected under the Data Protection and Privacy Act, cautioning that publishing names, scores and rankings amounts to a violation of learners’ rights.
Though measured in tone, her message was clear: the dignity and wellbeing of learners must come before public excitement over results.
As anxiety and anticipation swept through homes across the country, the Minister urged parents and guardians to resist the pressure of public comparison, stressing that examination results should guide learning progress, not expose children to shame, stigma or emotional harm.
The 2025 PLE results mark the first national examination outcomes released this year by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), with the majority of candidates having passed through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) system.
Mrs. Museveni hailed UPE as a transformative programme that has enabled millions of children to complete primary education free of charge, reaffirming government commitment to sustaining it.
While celebrating improved completion rates and a rise in the number of candidates attaining Division One, the Minister raised concern over a troubling trend, fewer boys are completing primary education compared to girls. She called for urgent, evidence-based research to explain the decline and guide corrective action.
She also highlighted strides in inclusive education, noting that learners with special educational needs continue to perform strongly when supported with appropriate learning environments.
In a powerful reminder of education’s transformative role, she commended the Uganda Prisons Service for enabling inmates to sit for PLE, describing education as a pathway to rehabilitation and reintegration.
With thousands of pupils preparing to transition to secondary education, Mrs. Museveni announced that the Senior One selection exercise will take place on 12th and 13th February 2026, with reporting for first term set for 2nd March 2026.
She pointed to continued government investment in seed secondary schools and alternative pathways such as community polytechnics under the newly enacted TVET Act 2025.
However, the release of results was not without sharp warnings. The Minister condemned persistent examination malpractices, including fraudulent registration of candidates and poor supervision, describing them as threats to the integrity of the education system. She also took aim at teacher absenteeism, urging parents and communities to speak out when public servants abandon classrooms.
As celebrations and disappointments unfold nationwide, Mrs. Museveni’s calm warning stood out as a sobering reminder: education is not just about grades and rankings, but about protecting the child, nurturing potential, and safeguarding the future. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
