1,586 Grade III primary teachers to repeat exams

Kyambogo University has recorded a decline in the overall performance of candidates who sat for the 2021 Grade III Teachers’ Certificate in Primary Teacher Education examinations.

Speaking at the release of the results at State House in Nakasero last week, Kyambogo University academic registrar Dr Annie Begumisa said the year 2021 was also characterized by a decline in the number of registered students compared to the previous year, 2020.

“There was a steady rise in the overall percentage pass from 2017 to 2020 and a sudden drop in 2021. The decline in overall performance may be attributed to the poor performance in Mathematics and Kiswahili subjects and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Begumisa said.

At least 5,576 candidates from 55 centers registered to sit the examinations. Of these, 45 centers were government and 10 privately owned PTCs. Out of the 5,576 candidates, only 130 passed with distinction, 3,616 with credits, and 40 got passes. Some 1,586 candidates failed the exams while 204 were ungraded.

Female candidates performed better than their male counterparts at 55.39% and 44.61% respectively. The First lady and Education minister, Janet Museveni, said the government has agreed to come up with an arrangement for students who failed the examinations but intend to retake their papers.

“Students may be wondering what is going to happen since some of the PTCs where they studied are among the 22 being phased out. My technical team will ensure that no continuing student will be affected by the ongoing teacher reforms under the National Teacher Policy by way of failure to find where to complete their studies,” Museveni said.

Some of the phased-out PTCs have been proposed to be repurposed into secondary schools, public university campuses, health, Agro-vet, and instructor training institutions. Museveni, however, insisted that operationalization of the proposals is “subject to availability of requisite financial resources. So, stakeholders should be patient.”

This is the last cohort of candidates admitted after S4 in February 2019 before the cabinet approved the National Teacher Policy in April 2019. The policy now mandates all teachers to hold a degree to qualify for the teaching profession.

BEST STUDENTS, COLLEGE

The best candidate in the 2021 examinations was Mugisa Tumwine from St Augustine PTC Butiiti in Kyenjonjo who obtained aggregate 13 out of the possible 9 in nine subjects and an “A” in school practice.

The overall best female candidate was Zainabu Owokunda from Bikungu PTC in Bushenyi with aggregate 14, an “A” in school practice, and an overall “Distinction”.

Buhungiro PTC in Isingiro was the best-performing college with an overall percentage pass of 100%. The least-performing colleges were; Margherita PTC in Kitgum and Iganga-based Noor PTC – all attained an overall pass below 40%.

Kyambogo University vice chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka noted that Margherita and Noor PTCs were all privately owned with various challenges as far as staffing, resources, and management are concerned. He urged principals of PTCs across the country to collect their results from Kyambogo University.

nangonzi@observer.ug