Hope Schools Director Dennis Emiku has urged Primary Seven candidates to remain committed to academic excellence, saying knowledge and wisdom are essential in turning their aspirations into reality.
Emiku made the remarks on Sunday, October 18, during dedication prayers for 51 Primary Seven candidates at Hope Primary School in Akalo – Kole District, ahead of the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
He commended parents for the sacrifices they make to educate their children, noting that some struggle to pay school fees at the expense of their basic needs. He urged learners to appreciate these sacrifices by working hard and encouraged parents to remain committed to their children’s education, describing it as a pathway to a better future.
Emiku also cautioned against underestimating children’s potential, saying those overlooked today could become the people others depend on in the future. He called on the community to embrace advances in modern technology and said Hope Schools understood the financial challenges faced by parents and strived to provide affordable education.
Hope Primary School Headteacher Charles Okello said teachers had adequately prepared the candidates for the forthcoming PLE, expressing confidence in their readiness. He cited the school’s performance in its first two PLE sittings, saying five of the 34 candidates attained first grade in 2024, while 18 of the 35 candidates achieved the same grade in 2025, with the remaining candidates in both years passing in high second grade.
Okello said the school also nurtures learners beyond the classroom, noting that its pupils represented Northern Uganda in the Odilo Championship this year. However, he identified delayed school-fee payments and pupils reporting late after school holidays as some of the challenges affecting learning.
Preaching from Daniel 1:3-4, Pr. Alfred Emiku of Hope Bible Community Centre Church urged parents, teachers, and candidates to play their respective roles in preparing learners for success.
Using a football analogy, he described parents as defenders responsible for protecting and supporting their children, teachers as midfielders who prepare learners for success, and candidates as strikers expected to convert the opportunities provided into goals. He urged the candidates not to waste the preparations made by their teachers and parents.
Kole District LCV Chairperson Eng. Moses Oteng, who was the chief guest, encouraged candidates to overcome fear, revise diligently, and attempt all questions during their final examinations. He told the learners that teachers had already laid the foundation for their success and that the responsibility now rest with them to put their preparations into practice.
The dedication comes ahead of the 2026 PLE, with candidates expected to receive briefings on October 30 before sitting their examinations on November 3 – 4, and more than 844,000 candidates nationwide are expected to sit for the examinations.