Government’s call on Ugandans to give priority to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programmes seems sinking as the number of enrolments and candidates is witnessed increasing year in and year out.
Recently, Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports commended Uganda Business and Technical Examinations – UBTEB for the ever-increasing number of female candidates in TVET professions, something she says is a big step forward in not only fighting unemployment but also achieving gender equity.
Ahead of July-August 2023 examinations, the Board has registered a total of 64,387 candidates which is the highest since the inception of the Board. Of these candidates, 19,298 are females and 45,089 males.
The examinations will run from 7th August 2023 to 24th August 2023 at 517 examination centres, according to Mr. Onesmus Oyesigye – UBTEB Executive Secretary.
He attributed the ever-increasing number to the impact played by these courses on the lives of Ugandans.
Technical programs (UCPC, Certificate and Diploma) have the highest number of candidates – 602,280. Out of these, 16,720 are females.
Business programs will sit a total of 3,146, the biggest number (2,159) being females.
Departmental programs have 778 candidates, 308 being females.
Modularized certificates (Centres of Excellence-Technical) will sit 183 students, 111 of them being females.
Addressing the press on Saturday morning at UBTEB Secretariat, he revealed that they successfully briefed candidates on Friday across the country and they started the delivery of all examination materials at storage facilities with the help from the Uganda Police Force.
Accordingly, Business Programs will do their exams from the 4th to 11th of August, Uganda Community Polytechnic Certificate and National Certificate-Technical (Modular assessment) from the 4th to 18th August, and Physical and biological sciences programs will sit theirs from 4th to 21st August.
On the other hand, those doing USDP Modular assessment for centres of excellence (Technical) will start their exams on the 18th and finish on 24th, those of Modularized Certificates from the 4th to 18th whereas those of Technical Diploma Programs will commence on 4th and end on 25th August 2023.
“As part of enhancing inclusive education, the Board has registered a total of 175 candidates pursuing various academic TVET professions. Of these candidates, 58 require attention who require special attention.”
Special cases include; Dyslexia, Visual impairment (blind), Hard of hearing (deaf), and Physical disability.
Mr. ES noted that candidates with special needs will be accorded special examination arrangements such as sign language interpreters and transcribers, while others will be accorded extra 30 minutes
As part of vigilance and ensuring the security of examinations, Oyesigye noted that they deployed 508 Examinations managers including Reconnoiters and Monitors.
“Given the practical and hands-on assessment of some modules, the Board deployed 22,515 practical Assessors and verifiers to conduct on spot assessment of candidates in the fields of cosmetology, catering and engineering programmes.”
The Board encouraged all Heads of centres to adhere to the UBTEB rules and regulations on conduct of examinations. They also asked candidates to desist from involvement in any form of examinations malpractices.
“Any form of involvement shall attract severe penalties ranging from cancellation of all results for the entire semester, imprisonment or caution.”
