As thousands of candidates across Uganda prepare to sit their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), school heads and local officials in Soroti City are rallying support for vulnerable candidates, including three Primary Seven girls at Kichinjaji Primary School who are pregnant.
One of the affected pupils gave birth approximately a month ago. Speaking during a candidates’ briefing at the school premises, Headteacher Alfred Enyidu urged parents and guardians to show empathy and provide the necessary physical and emotional backing to ensure the girls sit their papers successfully. He confirmed that the school will allow the mother of the pupil who recently gave birth to remain at the premises throughout the examination period to assist with nursing and childcare, stressing that conceiving is not the end of a girl’s educational journey.
The case at Kichinjaji Primary School highlights the persistent national challenge of teenage pregnancy and its impact on basic education in Uganda. Data from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the Ministry of Education and Sports demonstrates a recurring trend in recent years, where hundreds of pregnant candidates register and sit their national examinations annually. UNEB policy permits pregnant and nursing candidates to sit their final assessments, reflecting broader national measures aimed at preventing school dropouts due to early pregnancies.
Beyond candidates’ welfare, administrative and logistical preparations are underway across the city. Soroti City Inspector of Schools Simon Opolot reported that 3,440 candidates have been registered to sit the PLE across the city. Opolot reassured candidates against exam anxiety, emphasizing that the national assessment is a standard evaluation for which they have prepared throughout the year. He also directed private school proprietors to allow all registered candidates to sit their examinations regardless of unpaid tuition balances, advising administrators to resolve outstanding fee issues with parents without barring pupils.
To ensure candidates maintain focus and avoid health disruptions, Kichinjaji Primary School leadership, with the consent of parents, instituted a contribution of Shs 18,000 per pupil to provide school-prepared lunches during the two-day examination exercise. Enyidu explained that allowing outside or home-cooked food could introduce unfamiliar meals that cause stomach upsets and disrupt candidates during exam sessions. Salome Amero, the area councillor representing Kichinjaji Primary School, supported the meal arrangement, adding that child education and welfare during examinations remains a shared responsibility between school administrations and families.
Addressing candidates alongside Kichinjaji, headteacher Paul Esenu of St Paul’s Educational Centre advised pupils on examination presentation and personal conduct. He warned candidates against illegible handwriting and overconfidence, reminding them that external examiners require clear scripts. Esenu further cautioned female candidates to remain vigilant against sexual exploitation following the completion of their examinations as they transition out of primary school.
Kichinjaji Primary School will host candidates from five neighboring institutions, including St Paul Educational Centre, Soroti Independent Baptist Primary School, St Martha Primary School, St Ann Primary School, and Yusra Islamic Primary School, bringing the total candidate count at the center to 107 pupils.