In an attempt to revamp academic performances and set education standards in the region, 72 schools from all Acholi districts have began talks with the aim of forming body that will monitor exam performances under the Acholi Secondary Schools Examination Committee System. 

About 8,000 candidates who sat for senior four mock examinations at the end of the second term, are having the papers marked at Gulu High Secondary School, the marking exercise began by a briefing on Monday August 13. 

Mr. Faruk Opiro who was the chief guest declared the marking of the mock exams officially opened and argued schools in northern Uganda to train their own examines if they want to improve academic performance in the region. 

He warned that private schools must also register their school in order to allow their candidates to be examines under the Acholi Secondary schools examination committee body, because although their schools may be private; the candidates are not. 

He lamented that schools from Acholi sub region are lagging behind because they are dependant on other regions in using their past exam papers. 

“We need your input in order to move ahead, you know that our region is very rich nationally, let strictly begin from home,” he said. 

The headmaster of Kitgum High School Mr. Ocan Mike said 72 secondary schools from Acholi region sent 500 exams for mock marking, he said. 

He urged examiners to return marked exam papers back to respective schools for cross checking and stressed that all examiners must focus on clarity, accuracy and stick to examination standards. 

There has been poor academic performance in northern Uganda for the last 20 years as result of the brutal conflict between the government and the LRA. 

Prominent schools like St Joseph College Layibi and Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School which used to be among the best 10 in the country has seen performance drastically drop year after year. 

The other prominent ones that used to be the beacon of the entire country during 1960s to 1980s are Ombachi, Nyapeya, Lango College, Kitgum College and Comboni Mission College which were among the best in the country.