On Thursday, Janet Museveni, the Minister of Education and Sports released the Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board (UBTEB) End of Programme examination results for the April/May 2023 series.
According to Mr. Onesmus Oyesigye – UBTEB Executive Secretary, they conducted these examinations and assessments between 21st April and 26th May for programmes of Technical Higher Diploma, Technical National Diploma, Business Diploma & Certificate, and Physical and Biological Sciences Diploma & Certificate programmes.
The broad categories of programmes assessed include Technical Higher Diploma, Technical National Diploma, Business Diploma & Certificate, and Physical and Biological Sciences Diploma and Certificate programmes.
He noted that they registered a total of 13,209 candidates for the end-of-programme assessments, 7,701 were females.
Out of these, 8,538 (65%) turned up for examinations while 4,671 (35%) did not present themselves for assessment.
The Board attributed this partly to the UTCs that were unable to present candidates in the April/May 2023 examinations series.
GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF CANDIDATES.
Mr. ES noted that the rating of the performance of the candidates in these results considered their participation in Continuous Assessment, Industrial Training, Practical Assessment, Real-life Project and written theory assessment.
“Generally, out of the 8,538 candidates who sat for examinations, 6,913 Candidates (81%) successfully acquired all competencies in their respective trades.”
“In this particular release for the end of programme examinations, female candidates are 3,931 (57%) that successfully completed compared to male candidates with 2,982 (43%).”
Mr. Oyesigye revealed that there was a very good performance exhibited in Physical and Biological Science Diploma End of programme with an 82% pass rate.
“Other categories of programmes were also done well with completion rates above 70%.”
DETAILS OF CANDIDATE’S PERFORMANCE IN SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES
Technical Diploma Programme Results
These results comprise of the National Diploma and Higher diplomas in Technical and Vocational programmes.
Oyesigye said that a total of 2,578 candidates registered from 32 examination centres.
From those registered, 1958 candidates turned up for examinations and 7% scored Distinctions, 66% Credit and 11% scored pass grades.
Overall completion rates stand at 78%.
He revealed that there was poor completion rate for candidates who pursued diploma in Fashion and Garment Designs which was attributed to weakness in Marketing exhibition, Kiswahili and Cad Sketch Pad modules.
Business & Humanities Diploma Programme Results
A total of 199 examination centres registered 2,625 candidates for these examinations.
Out of 1,825 candidates that sat for examinations, 10% scored Distinction, 35% Credit and 29% pass grades
General completion rate stands at 74% with most programmes performing between 80% to 100%.
This is commendable performance, given that the cohort went through the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.
Business & Humanities Certificate Programme Results
A total of 7,610 candidates registered for these examinations.
Out of 4,140 candidates that sat for examinations, 8% scored Distinction, 61% Credit and 10% pass grades.
General completion rate stands at 79% with most programmes performing between 75% to 100%.
“Similarly, this cohort too studied through the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.”
Physical and Biological Sciences Diploma Programme Results
Mr. ES noted that the results in this section are for training institutions under the different departments in the respective line ministries of Agriculture, Natural resources, Lands and Tourism.
In this series of examinations, the Board registered a total of 888 candidates (290F & 598M) from 31 centres.
The overall completion rates stand at 82%, with, 6% Distinctions, 71% Credits, and 5% Pass grades.
The other 141(18%) candidates who sat and only acquired some competences, the Board usually gives them chances to perfect their competences when similar assessments are next offered.
The completion rates across most programmes are very good (above 70%) save for the few Diplomas in Agri-business management (61%), Physical Planning (65%), and Cartography (45%).
The completion rate (45%) of candidates who pursued Diploma in Cartography was affected by poor performance in the modules of Land law and Photogrammetry.
Represented by John Chrysestom, the State Minister for Higher Education, Mrs. Museveni commended UBTEB for increased access to Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through modular assessment and the determination of the Board to enhance online operations.
She also lauded the Board for its continued efforts to engage the Heads of TVET institutions and the industry to ensure that practitioners in the world of work participate in the assessment of trainees.
“This will enable the production of competent TVET graduates that match the ever-changing demands of the world of work.”
As Government, she noted that they have prioritized key sectors that can spur industrial growth and development such as Manufacturing, Construction, Information Communications Technology, Tourism and Hospitality, Agriculture, among others.
“It is now our deliberate policy as Government to harness critical skills that will enable the young generation to be part of the struggle to support the industrial base and guarantee increased productivity for job creation.”
“The Management of UBTEB should be applauded for fast-tracking the TVET reforms and their implementation in order to deliver the Board’s mandate. I am in particular grateful to the Board for the continued collaborations with the industry and TVET Development Partners that support Government’s call on delivering TVET that is Employer-led. This will enable our country to achieve her dream of raising a critical mass of artisans and technicians. I, therefore, call upon the private players in the industrial sector to be involved more in the curriculum development, training and assessment of TVET graduates,” said Mrs. Museveni.
She also applauded the Board for the continued increase in enrollment of trainees for TVET programmes especially females that have acquired competencies in the various trades is a tremendous achievement for the TVET sub-sector.
Board Recommendations
The Board wants all stakeholders especially the industry and Private Sector in general to be called upon to play a role in the training of TVET graduates through offering industrial field attachments. “There is a need for policy guidance as far as field attachment is concerned. A framework could be developed where the government can engage the industries so that a mechanism to incentivize the industries with some form of subsidies on their various inputs is put in place.”
The Board also wants institutions to be guided and even encouraged to take students for frequent industrial exposure to gain real-life practical experience that is applicable to the working environment
Mr. ES said that all efforts should be put in place by the institutions, monitoring and inspection agencies to ensure that training and assessment syllabus is completed in good time.
They also asked for a strong need by the Ministry of Education and Sports and other development partners to support ICT equipment acquisition for the training providers both public and private
