UNEB needs public confidence

By Patrick Ajuna

IN a bid to ensure integrity and quality assessment of candidates, Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has introduced the random number system where each secondary school with a UNEB centre has been assigned a number such that instead of indicating the name and the centre number of the school by candidates on their answer scripts and invigilators on the envelopes (where scripts are enclosed) as has always been the case, only the assigned number and candidates’ particulars are indicated. 

This move is intended to hide the identity of schools during marking and processing of results in order to eliminate bias. 

This innovation is in addition to the conveyor belt system introduced earlier, where three or more examiners are involved in marking a script of every candidate. 

These innovations are commendable given that there have been allegations of foul play by some UNEB officials in influencing results of some schools. 

However, such allegations cannot be dismissed entirely because some of the students who score quadruple A’s later perform poorly at higher levels.  

Secondly, the move by some universities offering bachelor of laws course to introduce entrance examinations renders UNEB irrelevant.   

It is also a norm for UNEB to with hold results of some candidates on grounds of examinations malpractices. This means there are still loopholes in the examinations process. 

The onus is on UNEB to ensure that examinations satisfy the attributes of validity and reliability as measuring devices. It is through this way that public confidence can be maintained and or restored. 

The following can also help to eliminate examinations malpractices;

l Reinforce and strengthen the examinations scouting team. 

l Put under strict surveillance all those engaged in assessment and processing of results especially at the stage of Mark sheeting and data entry.

l Hide the identity of candidates as well because some teachers teach in many schools.

l Let the experts in measurements and evaluation be involved in the process of finding the best strategies of improving the performance of UNEB. 

Writer is a student of Makerere University