It is common for human beings to blame every misfortune on someone or something or even a tool that could have crossed their way or used in the course of a certain task. Well this is no different from a church-founded school in Mityana district which is blaming its poor performance in the 2018 Primary Leaving Examinations on demons.
According to Harriet Nayiga the Kiwawu Church of Uganda Primary School head teacher, pupils were allegedly attacked by demons months before and during the examinations, causing the poor performance.
The school had 84 candidates that sat for PLE last year, the best performer scored aggregate 20 and together with 19 other students, were able to obtain a second grade with an average score of 24 aggregates, while only ten were graded in the third division, and more than 30 were ranked in the fourth division. 20 candidates were ungraded by the Uganda National Examinations Board and advised to repeat Primary seven.
Ms. Nayiga argues that their pupils were attacked by demons at the beginning of the first school term forcing them to temporarily close the school. However, the episode reoccurred months before the examination and during the exams.
she adds that in one of the incidences, parents mobilized traditional healers to chase the evil spirits and thought that all was well, only for them to return on the first day of the examinations when a number of pupils were reportedly seen jumping out of their seats, yelling on top of their voices.
the head teacher narrates that invigilators at the school thought that the children were creating a scene to hoodwink them so that they can have an opportunity to engage in malpractices but when the wailing persisted, the examination was put to a halt for almost an hour. This time priests were called in, to cast the demons out through divine intervention, and candidates continued with the paper.
The school is now encouraging parents to return the pupils to school so that they can sit for PLE this year.
