IPLE: UMSC, UQSA register improved performance in theological exams

         Tasneem Junior School in Nsangi, Wakiso, ranked third nationwide in the 2024 IPLE results, as announced by UMSC’s IPLE board.

By Abdul Wahid Kakande
The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the Uganda Quran School Association (UQSA) this week released results of their respective sets of last year’s Islamic Primary Leaving Examinations (IPLE), both showing a performance improvement.
At Tal Cottages in Lubaga near Kampala, Dr. Haruna Jjemba, the UQSA secretary-general, released results of the 7,485 candidates who sat for the exams, among whom 4,179 passed in first grade, while 1,684 passed in second grade.
The results further revealed that 493 pupils passed in third grade,654 in fourth grade, and 420 were ungraded, while 55 pupils did not show up for the exams despite registering.
A total of 3,294 girls sat for the exams compared to 4,191 boys. Overall, the girls performed better than their male counterparts.
According to Jjemba, only schools registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports are eligible to register candidates for the UQSA- UQSA-administered exams, except special interest groups like students from secondary schools.
Dr Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, Uganda’s ambassador to Sudan and presidential special envoy to Qatar, who presided over the event, urged Islamic teachers to adopt teaching methods that promote peace and community cohesion.
“I appreciate the government’s decision to allow religious institutions to develop their own curriculum. Having visited several Muslim countries, I have seen that some don’t permit religious institutions to administer exams. I thank the government and Ministry of Education and Sports for this opportunity, but we must use it responsibly,” Ssemuddu said.

Ssemuddu emphasised that Islam is a religion of peace and that any Muslim cleric engaging in extremism should be held accountable as an individual.
Sheikh Ahmada Yahaya Lukwago, the UQSA chairman, explained that the organisation initially aimed to manage all Islamic exams nationwide but later focused on IPLE after other stakeholders, like the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), joined in.
Lukwago encouraged schools to incorporate sports, revealing that a UAE-based organisation has offered scholarships to talented students excelling in Islamic exams.
UMSC
At the National Mosque at Old Kampala, Sheikh Ali Lukyamuzi, chairman of UMSC’s IPLE board, presented to the 1st deputy Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Waiswa, the results of 6,532 candidates who sat for the exams from 371 centres across the country. Of these, 4,817 candidates passed in first grade, 1,107 in second grade, and 204 in third grade.
In his remarks, Sheikh Waiswa expressed heartfelt gratitude to the IPLE Board members and staff for their tireless efforts in delivering quality Muslim education. He commended the new approaches being implemented, which have resulted in a trusted and authentic examination process across the country. He urged Muslim stakeholders, including parents, to support the board in its mission to elevate Muslim education to the highest standards.
Sheikh Waiswa also emphasised the importance of reviewing the existing syllabus to incorporate specialised areas within Islamic theological studies and further research. He expressed profound appreciation for the outstanding performance achieved by the schools, parents, and pupils in the past year and promised continued support from UMSC to the IPLE board in executing its responsibilities.
Sheikh Ishaka Kazibwe, IPLE board secretary, warned schools against indulging in cheating, saying the vice contradicts Islam.
“The examiners have discovered an improvement in understanding of the principles by the learners. However, they discovered that some pupils seem to have been assisted in writing exams. You should stop this. Our goal is not about passing exams but about producing quality products. I assure you that if we get you, we shall not only cancel the exams but also reprimand the school and those behind the scheme,” Kazibwe said.
He also warned against registering pupils who have not completed all the classes for the exams, as this compromises the standards.
“If we get to know that a pupil was rushed to sit the exams without completing all the classes, we shall recall his or her certificate,” Kazibwe said.