Assessment body Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has announced a roadmap for the marking of this year’s national examinations.
Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), UCE New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC) and UCE Transitional Examination for the Old Curriculum have already been conducted while for UACE, this is the second last week of administering the papers.
Uneb Spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba says the Board is set to start marking the scripts of the candidates who sat PLE this year, with a total of 7500 examiners contracted for the marking at this level at 13 centres.
Uneb has started coordinating the PLE examiners and these have already been invited to report to their respective Centres on November 30, 2024.
“Relatedly, preparations are also in final stages for the scoring of the pioneer candidates for the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC). This will be conducted from 13 centres, two of which will also host examiners for the transitional examination,” added Kalule-Musambi.
“One Centre has specifically been dedicated for the marking of the transitional examination.”
This means that for both UCE and PLE, there will be a total of 14,500 examiners. Meanwhile, Uneb has reduced the number of UCE marking centres from 20 last year to 14 this year.
The subjects have also reduced from 46 last year to 36 this year under the new curriculum, with total papers administered reducing by about a half from 126 to 69.
“Consequently, the number of examiners has also been reduced from 12,000 to 7000,” Uneb’s Kalule-Musamba noted.
“The invitation for the accredited examiners shall be delivered to the Area Supervisors this week. The Senior Examiner for UCE are expected to report on 30th to their respective coordinating centres, while the rest of the examiners shall report on 6th December, 2024.”
Regarding security and malpractice, a number of examination malpractice cases have been reported by our scouts from the field while others are being handled by the Police, Uneb noted in a statement, adding its legal team was analysing the cases along the police.
For example, the Police on Friday arrested the Head Teacher of Kitende SS on Entebbe road on allegations of damaging an examination envelope that was containing Sub-Maths.
The accused, a one Jimmy Ssembatya, was detained and later released on bond as investigations continue, said Kalule-Musamba.
In Kiira Division, Mugaga Ramathan, 24 years, with four others, will appear before the Magtistrate on 27th November for mention and bail application.
They are accused on unauthorised possession of examination materials. In a related case of unauthorised possession of examination material, still at Kiira Division, Albert Babeko and three others were convicted and sentenced to a fine of 5 million shillings each or serve 14 months imprisonment in the alternative.
In Mpigi, Charles Dhabangi and three others were remanded till 3rd December 2024 for mention and bail application. They are charged with conspiracy to commit examination malpractice.
The Police are also hunting for the other suspect, a teacher, who was seen writing answers on the Black Board during examination.
In Tororo, there is an ongoing case of Uganda vs. Ejangu Moses alias Professor Moses and Juuko Dennis. A1 pleaded guilty on each count and was sentenced to 18 months on each count to run consecutively, making a total of 36 months. A2, who pleaded not guilty was released on bail and is due for hearing today, 26th November 2024.
It should be remembered that Uneb recently arrested Kampala teachers who disguised as cleaners and hid in toilets to copy for candidates, while Masaka students were caught copying answers on smartphones using AI, as reported Here and There.
You can see Uganda’s best schools in PLE, UCE and UACE, according to last year’s results Here, There and Over There.
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