Education
Govt assesses over 30,000 candidates under informal skills programme
The assessments are being conducted at 209 accredited centres across the country, drawing thousands of candidates, including trainees from facilities under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child.
The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has commenced national assessments for 31,400 candidates under the Informally Acquired Skills framework. (File photo)
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has commenced national assessments for 31,400 candidates under the Informally Acquired Skills framework for the June 2025 examination series.
The assessments are being conducted at 209 accredited centres across the country, drawing thousands of candidates, including trainees from facilities under the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child.
In a statement, UVTAB said on Wednesday that the exercise kicked off with both theory and practical assessments, with candidates being evaluated under strict supervision.
The process involves real-time, on-site assessment by certified technical experts drawn from industry and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
“The June series covers 103 technical and vocational occupations, including carpentry, welding, tailoring and hairdressing, among others,” stated a statement released by Kambaho Narasi Anyijuka, the Principal Communications and Public Relations Officer at UVTAB.
Operating under the theme “Assessment for Employable Skills,” the exercise is part of government efforts to formalise prior learning, standardise skills acquired outside formal education systems, and award nationally recognised qualifications to artisans and trainees.
UVTAB officials have expressed optimism about the smooth running of the exercise, extending well-wishes to candidates and heads of assessment centres as the national exercise continues.
The June 2025 assessment series is one of the major moves to actualise implementation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act No. 3 of 2025, which has restructured the country’s vocational assessment system.
Previously, vocational assessment was split between the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) for formal trainees and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) for informal skills assessment.
“The June series covers 103 technical and vocational occupations, including carpentry, welding, tailoring and hairdressing, among others,” stated a statement released by Kambaho Narasi Anyijuka, the Principal Communications and Public Relations Officer at UVTAB.
Operating under the theme “Assessment for Employable Skills,” the exercise is part of government efforts to formalise prior learning, standardise skills acquired outside formal education systems, and award nationally recognised qualifications to artisans and trainees.
UVTAB officials have expressed optimism about the smooth running of the exercise, extending well-wishes to candidates and heads of assessment centres as the national exercise continues.
The June 2025 assessment series is one of the major moves to actualise implementation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act No. 3 of 2025, which has restructured the country’s vocational assessment system.
Previously, vocational assessment was split between the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) for formal trainees and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) for informal skills assessment.
Under the new law, the two mandates have been consolidated into UVTAB.
The Act also provides for the formal recognition of prior learning, enabling artisans and self-taught workers in the informal sector to obtain nationally recognised qualifications based on demonstrated competence.
The inclusion of trainees from the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child aligns with the Act’s emphasis on expanding equitable access to skills development and certification.
The Board says the involvement of industry-based assessors reflects the law’s shift towards competency-based evaluation anchored in labour market demands.
The Act also provides for the formal recognition of prior learning, enabling artisans and self-taught workers in the informal sector to obtain nationally recognised qualifications based on demonstrated competence.
The inclusion of trainees from the Presidential Initiative on Skilling the Girl and Boy Child aligns with the Act’s emphasis on expanding equitable access to skills development and certification.
The Board says the involvement of industry-based assessors reflects the law’s shift towards competency-based evaluation anchored in labour market demands.