The future of 6,974 students who failed the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations remains uncertain, as the government has yet to devise a plan for them under the new lower secondary curriculum.
Unlike previous years, when failing students could repeat Senior Four, the new system offers no clear path for them to continue their education.
Out of the 357,120 candidates who sat for the UCE exams, 350,146 (98.05 percent) passed.
However, the 6,974 who failed were categorized under Result 2 and Result 3, meaning they did not meet the minimum requirements for a UCE certificate.
Without this certificate, they are barred from progressing to Senior Five or enrolling in tertiary institutions.
For many of these students, the failure has left them stranded with no formal alternative. Some failed because they missed compulsory subjects, did not meet the eight-subject minimum, or lacked project work scores.
Others simply struggled academically and did not attain the required performance levels.
Under the old curriculum, students who failed had the option to retake the exams and improve their scores.
Now, with the new system, there is no clear policy allowing them to try again. The Ministry of Education has acknowledged the issue but has not provided a concrete solution.
Dr. Kendrace Turyagyenda, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, stated that they are still learning and adapting to the new system.
“We are continuously learning, adjusting, and improving. We will consider these emerging challenges and come up with a policy to guide these students,” she said.
Meanwhile, thousands of students and their families are left anxious and uncertain about what comes next.
With no opportunity to repeat Senior Four or pursue higher education, many fear that their academic dreams have come to an abrupt end.
Without intervention, these students risk being left behind, with limited prospects for their future.
