Girls outshine boys in TVET exams as 24,000 graduate
“These results demonstrate our collective dedication to empowering young Ugandans with skills that meet the demands of industry. We are shaping the future of a skilled workforce through our transformative TVET reforms.”
UVTAB Board Chair Prof. Dorothy Okello hands over the the May–June 2025 assessment results to state minister higher education John C. Muyingo at the UVTAB offices in Kyambogo on October 17, 2025. (Photos by Maria Wamala)
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Girls have outperformed boys in Uganda’s May–June 2025 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) national assessments, highlighting growing female participation and success in vocational education.
A total of 24,116 candidates successfully completed the assessments, with 14,188 of them females, according to the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, who released the results on Friday at the UVTAB Secretariat in Kyambogo, Kampala.
“I am proud to note the increasing number of female candidates accessing TVET,” Mrs Museveni said in a speech read on her behalf at the UVTAB headquarters by higher education state minister Dr John Chrysestom Muyingo.
“This is a clear sign of government efforts to promote gender equity and empower women through skills development.”
The First Lady said the results underscore Uganda’s ongoing efforts to produce a skilled workforce that meets industry demands.
“These results demonstrate our collective dedication to empowering young Ugandans with skills that meet the demands of industry. We are shaping the future of a skilled workforce through our transformative TVET reforms.”
The assessments were conducted in 499 centres nationwide, covering both formal and informally acquired skills.
Of these, 306 centres (61%) hosted formal TVET programmes, while 193 centres (39%) offered assessments for informally acquired skills. The assessment fields included Technology Education and Training, Agriculture, Business Education, and Home Science Education.
Education minister Museveni praised the UVTAB Board, led by Prof. Eng. Dorothy Okello, and the TVET Council for implementing the TVET Act 2025, which provides a regulatory framework for vocational education. She called for fast-tracking a TVET Qualifications Framework to create clear career pathways, facilitate industry recognition, and enable mobility for graduates.
She also highlighted ongoing government investments to strengthen TVET infrastructure, including the Uganda Refugee and Host Communities Project worth 8.7 million US dollars (30.4 billion shillings), which supports three skills development centres, and the rehabilitation of nine technical institutes across the country.
“Your skills are the backbone of national development. We remain committed to ensuring that every Ugandan has access to quality, relevant, and employable skills for national growth.”
The First Lady further encouraged partnerships with professional bodies, industry associations, and international institutions to align TVET curricula with global standards, ensuring graduates are competitive both locally and internationally.