School Head teacher, Director Arrested for Refusing to Register Candidates for PLE

Mpigi District | THE BLACK EXAMINER | In Mpigi District, the head teacher of Kisumba Foundation School in Buwama Sub County has been apprehended by the police due to allegations that he refused to register four candidates for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), which commenced on Wednesday.

Out of the 16 candidates enrolled at the school, it is reported that the suspect only registered 12 with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), even though all 16 had paid their registration fees of Shs70,000 each.

According to Mr. Karim Majid, the Katonga regional police spokesperson, the suspect was arrested on Wednesday morning while attempting to board a boat at Bunjako Island, apparently trying to escape the district via Lake Victoria.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect denied the candidates the opportunity to take their final exams, citing their supposed academic weakness.

“The suspect is currently in custody at Buwama Police Station awaiting prosecution,” said Mr. Majid.

Mr. Gerald Katongole, the Mpigi District Inspector of Schools, condemned the head teacher’s actions, stating that they contradicted the Ministry of Education’s guidelines.

“If the head teacher did not want the candidates to sit the exams at his school, he should have communicated this to the parents earlier, instead of waiting until the exam day. His selfish interests have now disrupted the students’ future, as they will have to wait another year to take their final exams,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, in Kayunga District, the director of Khan Seat of Wisdom is being held by the police after going into hiding following her failure to register a candidate for the final PLE exams. Phionah Naikesa, 14, was the sole Primary Seven candidate at the school.

Ms. Jennifer Nazziwa, Naikesa’s mother, reported that she had registered her daughter for the exams in May after paying Shs120,000. However, she was surprised when the school director sent her daughter away on Tuesday, claiming that she had not paid an additional Shs30,000 for her welfare during the exam period.

Ms. Nazziwa confronted the director, who then revealed that her daughter would not be taking the PLE but rather suggested using a “trick” to allow her to enter senior one the following year.

A detective at Kayunga Police Station confirmed that both the mother and her daughter had provided statements, and investigations were underway. The school director asserted that Naikesa had not registered for PLE.

Naikesa, in tears, expressed her distress, explaining that she had diligently prepared for the exams, while her mother had worked tirelessly to pay her school fees over seven years with the expectation that she would sit her final exams.

Mr. Dan Bubaale, the Kayunga District education officer, stated that he was investigating the matter and ensuring that those responsible face legal consequences. He also noted that efforts had been made to educate parents on how to verify their children’s registration with UNEB, but it appeared that some had not heeded the advice.

In total, 749,371 Primary Seven candidates began their final exams at 14,778 centers, commencing with the Mathematics Paper in the morning and the Social Studies & Religious Education paper in the afternoon. The following day, the candidates would tackle the Integrated Science Paper in the morning, concluding with the English paper in the afternoon.