More students register for UBTEB exams

Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) has registered 61,253 candidates to do 2018 exams compared to 46659 in 2017, registering an increase of 31.3%

Speaking to journalists at the UBTEB offices, Onesmus Oyesigye, the executive secretary UBTEB said, there has been 31.3% increase of students enrolling for vocation and technical courses.

He said more students are appreciating the value of vocational courses because people with hands on skills are more employable on the job market compared to those who have not done hands on courses.

"This year we have registered the highest number of students compared to previous years because the courses are more practical and when they go out, they have a skill to start either their businesses or get easily employed on the job market,"Onesmus said on Thursday.

He said more students from primary seven and ordinary secondary level (Olevel) are appreciating the value of vocational training and skills compared to university education because vocational education equips one with practical skills to perform well the job.

This year, UBTEB will be conducting the 15^th examinations series starting with the briefing of candidates on November 16 then start exams on November 19 and end on December 15, 2018, the exams will be conducted at 525 examination centers compared to 413 centers in 2017.

39,126 candidates will be sitting for exams in technical and vocational, while in 2017 they were 22,491. 4,437 candidates will do exams in Uganda community polytechnic compared to 5,106 in 2017.

5,474 will sit for diploma course in technical this year compared to 4,960 in 2017.10,914 candidates will sit for exams in business and humanities compared to 12,134 in 2017.

1,302 will sit for exams in specialised certificate and diploma compared to 1,968 in 2017.

Onesmus said, the board has also registered about 14 students with special needs from Kyambogo University center for special abilities, Mbale School of deaf, Makerere institute of social development and other universities, adding that this is the first one of its kind.

The board will deploy over 450 scouts and over 5,658 supervisors will work with area coordinators, monitors, and police to ensure security is beefed up during the exam process, including a total of 2,016 practical examiners to mark hands-on exams of Technical, Business and information communication Technology programmes.

Onesmus asked heads of centres to adhere to UBTEB examination rules and regulations and warned candidates against involving in any form of malpractices.

"Police and the law will legally deal with all those who will be caught cheating, so we warn you to take caution," he said.

UBTEB was established in 2008 by the BTVET Act and operationalised in 2009 by the statutory instrument to streamline, regulate, co-ordinate and conduct credible examinations and award certificates and Diplomas in Business, Technical and Vocational or Training in Uganda.

It is the only recognised technical, business, vocational and specialised awarding body in Uganda, examining over 96 accredited programmes