West Nile Registers Mixed PLE Division One Performance, Raising Education Concerns

The West Nile Region has recorded a mixed performance in the latest Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), with results showing significant disparities across districts and local governments.

According to the released figures, Arua City emerged as the top performer in Division One, registering 363 candidates, far ahead of other areas in the region. Adjumani District followed with 111, while Koboko Municipality posted 98 candidates in the top division.

Other districts recorded much lower numbers. Yumbe attained 62, Maracha recorded 47, and Pakwach posted 38. Moyo, Terego, and Nebbi Municipality followed with 35, 31, and 26 candidates respectively. Zombo and Nebbi District Local Government recorded 25 and 24.

At the lower end of the performance table, Arua District Local Government recorded only 13, Koboko District Local Government had 10, while Obongi and Madi Okollo posted 2 and 1 Division One candidates respectively.

In total, the entire West Nile Region registered 886 Division One candidates — a figure education stakeholders say is below expectations considering the region’s population and number of schools.

Education analysts point to challenges such as limited learning resources, teacher shortages, uneven school funding, and socio-economic pressures on learners as possible contributors to the uneven outcomes.

Stakeholders are now calling for renewed investment in foundational education, stronger community involvement, and targeted support for underperforming districts to ensure no learner is left behind.

As the region reflects on these results, education advocates emphasize that improving learning outcomes must remain a shared responsibility among government, schools, parents, and development partners.