UNEB wants new law to fight exam malpractice

May 22, 2018

Daniel Odongo asked legislators to repeal the UNEB Act of 1983

 

UNEB executive secretary, Daniel Odongo (right), addresses the budget committee of Parliament flanked by Connie Galiwango, the chairperson of the education committee of Parliament. Photo by Maria Wamala

Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has asked Parliament to increase its funding so that they can adequately facilitate invigilators.

Appearing before the budget committee of Parliament on Monday, the UNEB executive secretary, Daniel Odongo, said that there is need to better recognise the efforts of those who supervise and invigilate exams.

Without mentioning the exact amount needed specifically to fight exam malpractice, Odongo said that invigilators need to be given reasonable amounts of money so that temptations they face in the field leading to exam malpractice, can be alleviated.

"The teachers who mark UNEB exams, the supervisors, invigilators and scouts, are all poorly paid because of those funding gaps. Each invigilator is paid only sh16,000 which includes transport and meals," he said.

However, Odongo cautioned teachers that less pay is no ticket to engage in exam malpractice.

"Exam malpractice is a moral issue and those running examination centres need to know that we are raising future leaders of this country," he said.

"If we decide that cheating is the only way to success, then we are giving raw deal to the country."

He urged that the effort against corruption should be equated to fighting exam malpractice.

Repeal UNEB Act

Odongo also asked the legislators to repeal the UNEB Act of 1983, saying that it is too old and weak to fight exam malpractice.

"When it was enacted in 1983, we did not have people exposing examination material through social media," he said.

Odongo went on to say that the law prescribes a maximum penalty of sh50,000 for culprits of exam malpractice which is no longer deterrent.

Nyabushozi County MP, Fred Mwesigye, supported UNEB's request, saying that every effort needs to be done to stop the vice.

Kassanda North MP, Patrick Nsamba, said UNEB results are losing credibility before stakeholders due to examination leaks, leading to many conducting pre-entry exams.

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