Rukungiri District has witnessed a troubling decline in academic performance, particularly in Social Studies, according to the recently released results of the 2025 Primary Five District Exams and Primary Seven Mock Exams.
The assessments, which included students from both government-aided and private schools, revealed concerning trends that have prompted calls for immediate action from educational leaders.
The marking process took place over two weeks at Makobore High School, attended by key figures including the District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC), and headteachers from all primary institutions in the district.
Antony Amperize Rutare, the District Inspector of Internal Exams, reported that Social Studies was the worst-performing subject across both exam levels. While Karyamacumu Primary School stood out as the best-performing government school, Brain Trust Primary and Bwanga Progressive Primary School excelled in the private sector.
The results highlighted significant disparities among the nine sub-counties in Rukungiri. Buyanja Sub-County achieved the highest pass rate at 91.5%, followed closely by Bugangari at 90.3% and Ruhinda at 89.7%.
In stark contrast, Nyakishenyi Sub-County languished at the bottom with a pass rate of just 82.5%. This variation underscores the need for targeted interventions in under performing areas.
A total of 6,497 pupils participated in the Mock Exams, with only 556 students scoring in Division I, a slight decline from 641 pupils in 2024. The overall distribution of grades was concerning, with most students falling into the lower divisions: 2,608 in Division II, 1,252 in Division III, and 1,241 in Division IV. The figures indicate a troubling trend that educators and policymakers must address.
Social Studies, specifically, has shown a stark decline in performance. The pass rate dropped from 95.4% in 2024 to 87.9% in 2025, marking a significant 7.5% decrease.
This decline has raised alarms among educational leaders, who stress that the subject requires constant engagement with current affairs, demanding that teachers remain informed and proactive in their teaching methods.
Deputy RDC Ahimbisibwe Wilberforce Ongom commended Karyamacumu Primary School for its impressive performance despite facing infrastructural challenges, attributing success to the dedication of its teachers.
Additionally, Ongom called upon teachers responsible for Social Studies to always make research explaining that social studies is a subject to that deals with current affairs stressing that poor performance in social studies is recorded due to lack of doing research.
Ongom continued emphasizing the importance of integrity in the education system, warning against private headteachers who recruit top-performing pupils from government schools. He also condemned the practice of holiday teaching, asserting that schools must allow students to rest and prepare for the upcoming term.
As Rukungiri District grapples with these educational challenges, stakeholders are urged to collaborate on strategies that will enhance student performance, particularly in Social Studies. Without significant improvements, the future of education in the district may be at risk, underscoring the urgent need for effective policy implementation and community involvement.
