Over 11,000 commence national TVET exams

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A total of 114,954 candidates on Monday, November 25, 2024, commenced the national technical and vocational education training (TVET) exams amid calls for a special grant to cater for special needs students (SNE) in the sector.

The grant will help address gaps in training and assessment of SNEs as part of enhancing inclusive education in the TVET sector, according to Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board (UBTEB) executive secretary Onesmus Oyesigye.

Some of the SNE categories include students with dyslexia, visual and hearing impairments, and physical disability. 

"We note that the numbers (SNE enrollment) are increasing and there are specific disabilities which even require specific provisions in the curriculum, for example,” he said. 

"We had a meeting with the TVET department at the [education] ministry. So, in the new arrangement, we are going to have a comprehensive approach to these students. Even where they go at the training institutions and even where we train instructors should be catered for."

He made the revelation while addressing the media at the entity's headquarters in Ntinda on Saturday. 

According to Oyesigye, the exams are set to run from November 22, 2024, to December 20, 2024, at 663 examination centres.

Candidates at Lugogo Vocational Training Institute preparing to write their Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) examination on November 25. (Photo by Simon Peter Tumwine).

Of the 114,954 candidates sitting the exams, 43,890 are female and 71,064 are male.

He said the board also registered a total of 173 SNE candidates pursuing various TVET professions of which are 34 are students with Dyslexia, 43 with Visual impairment, 31 with hearing impairment and 65 with physical disability.

"The special needs candidates will be accorded support to sit for the examination arrangements, such as sign language interpreters, transcribers, and guides.  The rest will be given extra time and large fonts," Oyesigye said, adding that the board has accordingly deployed over 100 support personnel to assist candidates with special needs.

He said in accordance with UBTEB rules on the conduct of examinations, the Board conducted the briefing of Area Coordinators and Centre Supervisors on 18th November, 2024 at four regional centres in Mbale, Mbarara, Lira and Kampala.

The Board also registered the smooth briefing of all candidates by Heads of Centre on November 22, 2024 across the country to ensure smooth conduct of examinations.

According to him, the Board conducted a briefing of 470 Reconnoiters (exam scouts) responsible for ensuring smooth conduct of the first phase examinations at respective Examinations centres across the country.

He said the board will also deploy 2,742 Practical Assessors and verifiers to conduct on-the-spot practical assessments of candidates.

"This is aimed at ensuring adherence to the Board's rules on the conduct of examinations, " he said.

Dispatch of exams

By Saturday the Board had commenced the dispatch of all examinations to the designated safe storage facilities across the country with the help of the Uganda Police Force, according to Oyesigye.

"The Board warns candidates against involvement in any form of examination malpractices to avoid severe penalties ranging from cancellation of all results for the entire semester/term to imprisonment,” he said.

"We also appeal to heads of centres to highlight the penalties for examination malpractices during the briefing of candidates and the period of conducting examinations.”

Malpractices

He said as part of ensuring zero tolerance for examination malpractices, the Board carried out pre-inspection of selected examination centres from 15-20th November 2024 to ascertain the readiness and suitability of examination centres by UBTEB Rules on the conduct of competence-based examinations, assessment and awards.

He said the Board also sent a team of senior Managers to participate in the briefing of candidates at selected examination centres across the country.

This team is to ensure that the examination centres are conforming to the set examination rules and guidelines.