By Haron Okwir
Otuke, Uganda | Private schools have once again outperformed government-aided schools in Otuke District following the release of the 2025 Primary Seven end-of-term two mock examination results.
The results were released on Tuesday, September 2, at the district headquarters in the Council Hall, in a ceremony attended by headteachers, deputies, the District Inspector of Schools (DIS), the District Education Officer (DEO), Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Secretary for Education and Sports, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Assistant RDC, Senior Education Officer and the LC V chairperson.
According to acting DIS Akwar Macdonald, 1,615 candidates registered for the examinations compared to 1,507 last year, a 6.7 percent increase. Of these, 718 were girls and 897 boys.
Overall performance showed 47 candidates passed in Division I, 245 in Division II, 152 in Division III, and 457 in Division IV.
However, 703 failed in Division U while 11 candidates were absent.
Bright Star Junior School, the only private school that registered candidates for the mocks, topped the district with a 93 percent pass rate.
This single private school outshone all 45 government-aided schools in the district.
Among government schools, the best performers were Barjobi Primary School with 79 percent, Barlegi (71 percent), Olilim (61 percent), Orum (52 percent), and Oluro (46 percent).
Other schools that made it to the top ten included Aleri (39 percent), Adwari (42 percent), Atirayon (36 percent), and Atanggwata (38 percent).
In sharp contrast, several government schools mostly from Ogor Sub-county failed to register any candidates in Division I, II or III.
These included Omwonylee, Ader, Okune, Ogweno, Ociro, Anyalima, Abongower, Adyerakonya, Barkeo, Okeremomkok, and Oderokech primary schools.
Speaking on behalf of headteachers, Grace Auma of Okum Primary School urged colleagues to address weak areas, conduct regular tests, and work collectively in preparing candidates for the national examinations.
DEO Lucy Acheng appealed to the Chief Administrative Officer to eliminate this year’s Pre-PLE exercise, arguing that teachers need more time to prepare learners for UNEB.
Akwar Macdonald highlighted major challenges behind the poor performance in government schools, including incomplete lower primary syllabus coverage, lack of reading and writing skills, poor handwriting, and inadequate guidance from teachers.
He noted that 48 percent of the candidates scored Division U, with some failing even to write their index numbers correctly.
Deputy CAO James Engoi blamed headteachers for tolerating absenteeism among teachers, which he said has left large portions of the syllabus uncovered.
RDC Rogers Masiga closed the ceremony by urging teachers to recommit themselves to their profession, stressing that they play a critical role in shaping communities and must serve as role models.
Otuke District has 45 government-aided primary schools, yet the 2025 mock results reinforced a consistent trend private schools continue to outperform their government counterparts.