Joyce Namugambe
The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Examination for the 2023 candidates officially starts today, Friday, October 13th, 2023, with the briefing of candidates to prepare them for the papers starting on Monday 16th October 2023.
Addressing the press at Uganda Media centre, the Executive director of UNEB Dan N Odongo emphasized that the briefing is a very important exercise which must be conducted by the head teachers themselves. During the briefing session, candidates must be made aware of the instructions contained in the timetable as well as the Rules and Regulations guiding the conduct of examinations. He added
Odongo also stressed that head teachers must explain clearly to the candidates the consequences of their not adhering to these rules and regulations, and of cheating in the examination, noting that UNEB has found out that cases of irregularities and malpractice by candidates quite often arise from candidates receiving inadequate, or no briefing at all.
He encouraged parents who can do so, to attend the briefing sessions and the briefing is also aligned with the national prayers and dedication for the candidates and the examination process which UNEB has requested for from all faith affiliations.
The prayers which are scheduled to take place from today Friday,13th October to Sunday, 15th October 2023 Candidates will, thereafter, start writing their examinations on Monday, 16th October 2023 , starting with Geography Paper 1 and 2 in the morning and afternoon, respectively.
According to UNEB, A total of 364,470 candidates registered for this year’s UCE examination, as compared to 349,445 candidates last year, indicating a percentage increase of 4.3 in candidature. Of these, 184,014 (50.5%) are females, while 180,456 (49.5%) are males. The candidates will write their papers from 3,863 Centres countrywide compared to 3,703 Examination Centres in 2022.
Luzira Upper Prison Centre which caters for the inmates registered 59 candidates, of whom 7 are females and 52 are males. A total of 118,735 (32.5%) of the candidates are funded under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) Programme, while 245,734 (70%) of the candidates are Non-USE.
Furthermore, 777 of the UCE candidates are Special Needs Education (SNE) learners. Odongo stressed that the Board has arranged for them to receive the necessary support per their needs. UNEB will avail braille answer sheets for the blind, and large print question papers for those with low vision, while the deaf will receive sign language interpreters.
Candidates with severe physical impairments that may affect the use of apparatus during practical examinations will also receive support persons. Those with dyslexia/reading and writing problems will be availed transcribers.
This year’s examinations will be conducted under the theme ‘Integrity and security in the management of examinations is a joint responsibility. The Board is working with various security agencies, contracted professionals, and Heads of Centres to conduct this examination. We shall deploy 1,036 security officers, 1,113 scouts and 107,941 invigilators.
While high levels of integrity are expected from those we are working with, UNEB strongly warns against involvement in any form of examination malpractice.
“We would also like to strongly warn the public against fraudster’s examination papers and extorting huge sums of money from the unsuspecting members of the public. We hereby caution the public. This year’s examinations will be conducted under the theme ‘Integrity and security in the management of examinations is a joint responsibility.
The Board is working with various security agencies, contracted professionals, and Heads of Centres to conduct this examination. We shall deploy 1,036 security officers, 1,113 scouts and 107,941 invigilators.
“We hereby caution the public against dealing with such people. So far, nine key suspects have been arrested and arraigned before the court. Yesterday, six of them were remanded to Luzira Prison until 30th October 2023. It is our plea that they be dealt with per the provisions of the UNEB Act, 2021.
“Our security agencies are following up on the rest who are on the run. Any other person, be they teachers, or invigilators, who will aid and abet acts of malpractice will face the full force of the law. Section 25(1) provides that any person who gains or attempts to gain possession of any examination paper, or any part of an examination paper, examination material, or any other material or information which purports to relate to the contents of an examination paper, commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two thousand currency points or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both. Subsection 2 of the same section provides that any person who, willfully or negligently assists, or causes any candidate to obtain, or gain unauthorized possession of an examination paper, material or information or any part of an examination paper, commits an offence, and on conviction, will be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand currency points or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both.
However, UNEB has cautioned parents to address the issue of school fees balances with the heads of schools early enough, to avoid the scenario where candidates are inconvenienced by the school heads on account of non-payment of the fees.
Mr. further Odongo requested heads of centres to avoid the act of pulling candidates out of examination rooms in the course of the examination due to fees issues.
The Board will work with the schools to put in place measures to recover their fees even after the examinations have been done by defaulting candidates.
