According to UNEB, a total of 333,889 candidates sat for this examinations from 3,935 registered centers. UNEB informed media outlets that there were more female students comprising 50.1 percent compared to their male counterparts who accounted for 49.8percent. There were also more candidates from non-Universal Secondary Education(USE) program than those under the USE, at 185,754 and 148,135 respectively.
Generally, apart from those candidates whose results were withheld; 39,968 candidates (12.1%) passed in division one, and 69,782 (21.2%) got division two, while 81,428 (24.7%) landed in grade three. Another whooping 120,055 candidates (36.4%) made it in the fourth division, while some 18,414 (5.6%) regrettably settled in the ninth grade.
Considering that the students sat for examinations in a COVID-19 tainted environment, I think the performance is fair, compared to the previous normal years.
Until now, there is continuous analysis of the results and specifically the performance of schools by different concerned people within the Country so as to try and share good lessons from schools that excelled, but also to sieve out critical challenges that could have affected the ones that plummeted.
New media (social media) has made it possible to have decentralized discussions where different regions or districts, Sub Counties, Parishes or even villages easily focus on their zones and dichotomize the issues.
Back home in Abim district, the performances of the few Secondary schools were received with mixed reactions characterized by amazements, agitations and vilifications.
A school like Abim S.S that had never been serious despite being the oldest secondary school in the district, surprised her critics by performing fairly better. Abim S.S was able to have 11 candidates (11%) in grade one, 40 candidates (41%)in division two and 47 of their candidates (48%) fell in the third ranking. Look here, for a school that has been having first grade drought for centuries, this is a great show and it clearly animated most people.
The other schools within the district simply tumbled. Above all, Morulem Girls’ Secondary that used to top the district in UCE has gradually waned. This school only afforded 02 candidates or (4%) in division one, 13 (25%)in the second division and a roaring 21 candidates (40%) in the third grade. There is also a contribution of 16 candidates (30%) in the ugly fourth grade and, 01 candidate (01%) settled in the abominable division nine.
Formerly viewed as a symbol of hope for the girl child in the district as it remitted highly graded students than no other school, we can for now say that Morulem Girls’ has gone far down low.
According to local commentators, Morulem Girls’ has nosedived because of three critical reasons: The indifferent and languorous teaching staff, the category of students admitted and the droopy parents.
Decriers of Morulem Girls’ think that the teachers have lost focus in their work and redirected energies to other things including political activities that has partly divided them and equally provoked mistrust and disrespect from the learners and the community. I hope it’s not true.
The other notion is that the school has of late focused more on offering second chance education, where more of the school dropouts are the ones gathered and forced back to class as long as they are sponsored by a good Samaritan. This is a very good initiative but, where there is no will, there can’t be a way. Cases of these ‘girls’ climbing over the school fence to escape back home or to meet with their better halves or to drink alcohol, look for dance parties etc. are said to be rampant in this school. With this, I may not blame the teachers. Critics might need to understand this scenario and look for a better way of benchmarking Morulem Girls’ nowadays.
The third concern is the disinclined parents who do not spare resources (could be just time) to learn and support in solving the issues at the school. Parents are important in all schools. They might need to be woken up and shown where they can come in. I hope something will be done.
Schools that have continued to perform well have built strong systems for teacher motivation, attracting students of better grades and strengthening coordination with parents and the Old Students’ Associations. Morulem Girls’ and all other schools in Abim district could do better by forging a way along the above lines too.
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