📷 S5 selection starts at UMA ground

The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Exhibition HalI in Kampala was on February 20, 2025, abuzz as teachers conducted selections for students intending to join Senior Five in various secondary schools.

The entrance to the main hall was crowded by 8:00am, but the process is methodical, with teachers lining up for registration before accessing the hall.

Upon entering the hall, teachers receive lists containing the names of students, which serve as a basis for determining the number of students admitted to their respective schools.

The lists also indicate the number of students to be distributed to other schools, based on their performance.

According to education ministry official Harriet Ajilong, candidates who obtain a minimum competence level grade of D in at least one subject will qualify for the Uganda Certificate of Education and be eligible for S5 placement in 2025.

"Students who sat equivalent exams under other curricula will be admitted if their results have been equated by Uganda National Examinations Board," she noted.

Ajilong emphasised that eligible students with special needs should not be excluded due to their disabilities.

"Special consideration will be given to place these students in suitable schools or units," she said.

School head teachers will submit placement returns by March 31, 2025, to the Office of the Commissioner, Guidance and Counselling Department.

Why selection

Mary Naturinda, the deputy headteacher of Immacative Heart Nyakibale, welcomed the new curriculum, describing it as innovative since students undertake projects that can be developed.

"The students set up projects that they can pursue up to university," she said.

Naturinda emphasised that the exercise is crucial as it would prevent confusion among parents transferring their children from one school to another.

She added that the placement exercise simplifies the process, enabling schools to determine the number of students their infrastructure can accommodate.

(UNEB) Executive Director, Dan Odongo, two weeks ago revealed that 350,146 candidates (98.05%) who sat for their O' level exams last year qualified for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) certificate.

He said the qualification will be indicated on their transcripts and certificates as “Result 1.”

During the release of the O'level results at State House in Nakasero, Odongo stated that candidates who failed to meet the conditions for the UCE certificate award will have "Result 2" indicated on their transcripts.

He said this applies to candidates who did not sit for compulsory subjects, failed to sit for at least eight subjects, or lacked Project Work scores.

Furthermore, candidates who did not achieve the minimum level in all subjects, resulting in only achievement level E in all subjects taken, will have "Result 3" indicated on their transcripts.

Chief guest Dr.Kedrace Turyagyenda, the PS Ministry of Education and Sports delivering her speech at the official opening of the senior five learners placement exercise at UMA, Lugogo.

According to Odongo, candidates with "Result 2" and "Result 3" on their transcripts do not qualify for a UCE certificate.

Haji Ismail Mulindwa, the Director basic and secondary education making his remarks.

He disclosed that a total of 359,417 candidates were registered as the first cohort for the examination. Of these 177,133 (49.3%) were males, while 182,284 (50.7%) were females.

Dr.Jane Egau Okou, undersecretary Ministry of Education and Sports making her remarks.

Odongo said 136,785 (38.1%) were beneficiaries of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme and 222,632 (61.9%) were Non-USE. A total of 357,120 (99.4%) candidates were present for the examination. Only 2,297 (0.6%) were absent.

“The rate of absenteeism continues to drop and this is a good sign,” the UNEB boss said.

According to Odongo, these are results of the first cohort of candidates under the competency-based curriculum.