EDITOR
A total of 33 pupils in Kabale District missed this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), according to the District Education Officer (DEO), Mr. Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye.
Speaking to our reporter, Mr. Bwengye revealed that out of the 3,467 pupils registered to sit for the 2025 PLE, only 3,432 candidates managed to take the exams, which were conducted between Monday and Tuesday this week.
The DEO noted that the reasons behind the absenteeism vary. Some pupils reportedly dropped out of school, engaged in child labour, or got married before sitting for the exams. Others, he added, abandoned school after registration, with some school authorities unaware of their current whereabouts.
Mr. Bwengye emphasized that the District Education Department, together with the Ministry of Education, has commenced investigations into the root causes of pupil absenteeism. The goal, he said, is to develop effective interventions to ensure that all registered candidates in future examinations are able to sit for their papers.
He reaffirmed the district’s commitment to working closely with schools, parents, and community leaders to address the social and economic challenges contributing to school dropouts and absenteeism during national examinations.
