Primary Leaving Exam

Last week was the PLE (Primary Leaving Exam) for all P7's in Uganda. All these students, country wide, took the same test, started at the same time, ended at the same time, and had to have their exams sent in at the same time. It was a big stress. This exam determines what kind of a secondary school the students can get into. Secondary education is just starting to be covered under Universal Secondary Education meaning secondary education is open and free to all. Currently, USE is open to S1 – S3. If students do well on the PLE they have a chance of going to a good secondary school and them maybe University. However, if they do poorly on the PLE they will either go to a bad secondary school or stop their educational career here. A lot of pressure is put on these students at the age of 13.