UNEB lacks special needs examiners

TWO deaf pupils who sat the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) last year, have complained that the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) lacks special needs examiners. Therefore, they said, candidates with special needs are marginalised and not examined appropriately. Patrick David Kafeero attained an aggregate of 22, Division two, while Robert Ronald Kibalama attained an aggregate of 21. Kafeero and Kibalama attended the Uganda School for the Deaf, Ntinda, one km away from UNEB headquarters in Ntinda.“We have good teachers at Uganda School for the deaf whom I believe can be good examiners for deaf candidates. Our exams need special attention,” Kibalama noted.Kafeero who got a pass 7 in English language could not believe his marks because this is his best subject. He said the worst he could get in English is credit 3.Mr. Jackson Mbuusi, headteacher of the Ntinda school, observed that it is a right to every body to complain but proper channels should be used.He said that he was also surprised by their performance but he couldn’t blame the examiners before meeting the officer in charge.Reacting to this complaint, Ms Eva Kkonde, UNEB’s public relations officer, advised the pupils to go to the UNEB headquarters rather than going to the press.“We can’t solve our problems in the press. Let the headteacher of that school come with them at the headquarters,” Konde advised. She said that they have special examiners who mark deaf and blind pupils’ examinations. On top of that the special needs candidates are given an extra 30 minutes to do their examination papers. Those who teach children with special needs argue that an extra 30 minutes is not enough for every one. Some children’s disabilities are so severe that they need oral exams or an extra two hours.Government set up the Uganda Institute of Special Education (UNISE) to help children with special needs. But when it comes to national exams, special needs children are ill treated and marginalised in the marking process. UNEB must look into this. ends