UNEB Explains Subject Choices
OVER 12,000 O’ level candidates who sat the 2003 examinations will not get certificates having either failed or taken the wrong subject combinations.
By John Eremu
OVER 12,000 O’ level candidates who sat the 2003 examinations will not get certificates having either failed or taken the wrong subject combinations.
Many candidates and career teachers are not abreast with changes in the school curriculum and the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) assessment system. Failure to take a science subject or registering for fewer than eight subjects (or six subjects for private candidates) is tantamount to flouting examination regulations and therefore not qualifying for a certificate.
The registration process is on for both the O’ and A’ level students to take part in the 2004 examinations and it is imperative that these candidates know the right subject combinations.
UNEB has eight subject groupings from which a candidate may choose. According to Odongo Nokrach, the UNEB in charge secondary education, a candidate must take Group I and Group IV subjects. Group I comprises only English Language while Group IV is Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. These subjects are compulsory.
Candidates are also expected to choose at least a subject from Group II. These are mainly humanity subjects comprising of Literature in English, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Christian or Islamic Religious Education, History, Geography and Political Education.
Group III subjects are optional and consist of mainly languages - Latin, German, French, Luganda, Lugha ya Kiswahili and Arabic Languages.
UNEB regulations require that a candidates takes at least a subject from Group V. They can either take General Science where no practicals are required or Agriculture - principles and practices. They can also opt for Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
A candidate may also take a subject from Group VI, which are cultural subjects including Art, Music, Health Science, Clothing and textiles, Food and Nutrition and Home management.
Group VII subjects are woodwork, technical drawing, metal work, building construction, electrical and electronics and power and energy while Group VIII subjects are commerce, principles of accounts, shorthand, typewriting and office practice.
In total, a candidate must take a minimum of eight chosen from any of the subject groupings but taking into account the compulsory subjects or subject groups.
The candidates and headteachers should also know that normal registration closes on May 31, 2004.
“Parents and headteachers should know that when we talk of May 31, that is when we close the registration at UNEB. It means the schools have to finish registration much earlier than that date,†Nokrach said.
Late registration will attract a surcharge of 50% of the total registration fees. Late registration also closes on June 15, 2004, two weeks earlier than in the previous years.
In a March 1, 2004 circular to headteachers, district inspector of schools and district education officers, UNEB also announced the revision of the registration fees upwards.
O’ level candidates will now pay a basic fee of sh7,500 up from sh5,600 while those in A’ level will now part with sh9,000.
O’ level candidates will in addition pay sh4,850 per subject as opposed to sh3,700 while those at A’ level have had their fees raised from sh5,600 to sh9,000 per principal subject and sh5,900 per subsidiary subject.
The private candidates will in addition pay an equivalent of basic fees in each category.
“The new rates were calculated on the unit costs of running the examinations,†Nokrach said. “Because of the high number of candidates, we now have increased supervision, the cost of producing examination materials have also gone up and we are trying to improve the invigilation and scouting fees,†he added.
Matthew Bukenya, the board secretary, said the rates were revised to match the increasing costs of examination administration. Nokrach warned headteachers against imposing charges above the officials fees.
“Some schools have been charging candidates above the official rates saying the rates were from UNEB. Those are now our official rates and any charges outside that should be queried,†Nokrach said.
The schools are expected to remit the fees in form of bank drafts payable to UNEB, together with the entry forms. Ends
OVER 12,000 O’ level candidates who sat the 2003 examinations will not get certificates having either failed or taken the wrong subject combinations.
Many candidates and career teachers are not abreast with changes in the school curriculum and the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) assessment system. Failure to take a science subject or registering for fewer than eight subjects (or six subjects for private candidates) is tantamount to flouting examination regulations and therefore not qualifying for a certificate.
The registration process is on for both the O’ and A’ level students to take part in the 2004 examinations and it is imperative that these candidates know the right subject combinations.
UNEB has eight subject groupings from which a candidate may choose. According to Odongo Nokrach, the UNEB in charge secondary education, a candidate must take Group I and Group IV subjects. Group I comprises only English Language while Group IV is Mathematics and Additional Mathematics. These subjects are compulsory.
Candidates are also expected to choose at least a subject from Group II. These are mainly humanity subjects comprising of Literature in English, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Christian or Islamic Religious Education, History, Geography and Political Education.
Group III subjects are optional and consist of mainly languages - Latin, German, French, Luganda, Lugha ya Kiswahili and Arabic Languages.
UNEB regulations require that a candidates takes at least a subject from Group V. They can either take General Science where no practicals are required or Agriculture - principles and practices. They can also opt for Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
A candidate may also take a subject from Group VI, which are cultural subjects including Art, Music, Health Science, Clothing and textiles, Food and Nutrition and Home management.
Group VII subjects are woodwork, technical drawing, metal work, building construction, electrical and electronics and power and energy while Group VIII subjects are commerce, principles of accounts, shorthand, typewriting and office practice.
In total, a candidate must take a minimum of eight chosen from any of the subject groupings but taking into account the compulsory subjects or subject groups.
The candidates and headteachers should also know that normal registration closes on May 31, 2004.
“Parents and headteachers should know that when we talk of May 31, that is when we close the registration at UNEB. It means the schools have to finish registration much earlier than that date,†Nokrach said.
Late registration will attract a surcharge of 50% of the total registration fees. Late registration also closes on June 15, 2004, two weeks earlier than in the previous years.
In a March 1, 2004 circular to headteachers, district inspector of schools and district education officers, UNEB also announced the revision of the registration fees upwards.
O’ level candidates will now pay a basic fee of sh7,500 up from sh5,600 while those in A’ level will now part with sh9,000.
O’ level candidates will in addition pay sh4,850 per subject as opposed to sh3,700 while those at A’ level have had their fees raised from sh5,600 to sh9,000 per principal subject and sh5,900 per subsidiary subject.
The private candidates will in addition pay an equivalent of basic fees in each category.
“The new rates were calculated on the unit costs of running the examinations,†Nokrach said. “Because of the high number of candidates, we now have increased supervision, the cost of producing examination materials have also gone up and we are trying to improve the invigilation and scouting fees,†he added.
Matthew Bukenya, the board secretary, said the rates were revised to match the increasing costs of examination administration. Nokrach warned headteachers against imposing charges above the officials fees.
“Some schools have been charging candidates above the official rates saying the rates were from UNEB. Those are now our official rates and any charges outside that should be queried,†Nokrach said.
The schools are expected to remit the fees in form of bank drafts payable to UNEB, together with the entry forms. Ends