12,500 To Miss UNEB Certificates
Feb 29, 2004
KEZEKIA was always a consistent student. He never missed classes. His parents had high hopes in him. They rejoiced when he obtained aggregate seven in the seven subjects he took at the O’ level. But their joy was short-lived.
By John Eremu
KEZEKIA was always a consistent student. He never missed classes. His parents had high hopes in him. They rejoiced when he obtained aggregate seven in the seven subjects he took at the O’ level. But their joy was short-lived.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) said Kezekia could not get a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) because he did not take the required number of subjects.
Some 12,500 candidates who sat the 2003 O’ level examinations will never get their certificates. Other than the 851 candidates whose results were cancelled for cheating, a total of 11,752 will miss the certificates for either failing or infringing on subject entry regulations.
Those who flouted subject entry regulations, for instance by not taking compulsory subjects like Maths and English, were put in Grade 7 according to Matthew Bukenya, UNEB secretary.
A candidate also gets Grade 7 if he does not take at least a science subject in Group 5 or if he/she enters for fewer than eight subjects (school candidates) or six subjects for private candidates. According to Bukenya, candidates awarded Grade 7 do not qualify for a certificate.
Odongo Nokrach, UNEB deputy secretary for secondary education, explained that Group 5 subjects are general sciences combining Physics, Biology and Chemistry but without the practicals papers. This is primarily meant for private candidates and schools without functional laboratories.
Candidates in schools with functional laboratories are required to take at least the three science subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology and Agriculture - both theories and practicals - in addition to Mathematics and a combination of other arts subjects totalling to at least eight.
Education Minister, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya said registering for less than eight subjects was illegal. He urged all the headteachers and teachers to inform parents and candidates.
“A certificate is academically useful. It indicates that you have completed one cycle in the education system. It indicates that you are ready for the next level of learning,†Makubuya said during the release of the 2003 O’ level examination results last Tuesday.
The 2003 O’ level results showed overall improvement in performance with 91.4% or 124,344 of the 140,221 registered candidates passing (Division One to Four) as opposed to a pass level of 87.6% in 2002. Candidates passing in Division One rose to 14.3% or 19,406 up from 9.4% the previous year. The failure rate dropped to 8.6% or 11,752 as opposed to 12.4% in 2002.
Bukenya attributed the impressive level of passes to good performance in English language and Mathematics. “Examiners also reported better quality work by candidates in 2003 compared to those of 2002,†he said.
Bukenya said there was also remarkable improvement in performance in English Language, History, Mathematics, Chemistry and Commerce and a decline in Agriculture. He, however, said candidates’ performance in mathematics and sciences, though improved, was still worrying with nearly 50% of those who took the subjects failing.
“Examiners put the poor performance to lack of practical experience by candidates. Evidence gathered by UNEB scouts during the examination showed that 33.6% of the centres visited lacked functional laboratories,†he said.
It was evident that government-aided schools performed better than private schools. Makubuya attributed this to various interventions including the supply of textbooks, laboratory equipment, chemicals for the teaching of science, building of seed schools and laboratories and improved methods of management including periodic transfer of teachers and headteachers.
The impressive performance was, however, dented by the cancellation of results of 851 candidates. As a warning to would-be cheats, UNEB withdrew the centre numbers for Kabazanga SS, Kasese, Hillside Academy, Itojo - Ntungamo, Wobulenzi High, Namulonge SS, Stena Hill School, Kampala, King’s College Bujuuko, Wakiso, Makindye College School and Bulasio Kkonde Memorial for cheating.
Royale Oasis College - Kampala, Busia Forward SS, Ntungamo Hall, St. John Bosco, Kamuli, Kabojja Parents, Royal Ranges secondary school - Kasese, Capricorn High School - Lira and Blessed Christian College in Kampala have also had their centre numbers withdrawn for diverting examination fees.
Also warned for massive cheating were St. Albert’s SS Kakindo, Mpigi Progressive, Central College - Nateete, Rugyeyo SS Karuhinda in Rukungiri, Equator College - Kampala, St. Anne’s Kihani - Ibanda, Namuganga SS - Kasawo, St. Leonard’s SS, Mpigi, Malongo Baptist Church - Rakai and Kingstone High School in Kampala.
As usual, the top candidates in the central region passed with aggregate eight in the best eight subjects, while even those with aggregate 37 were listed top in upcountry schools. The only surprise was Ayo Samuel, from St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu who also got eight.
Surprisingly, only one of the 1999 Kampala PLE stars made it to the list of fame. It was only James Onyango, who sat from St. Mary’s College Kisubi that scored aggregate eight and was among the top candidates in Wakiso. He did his PLE at Kampala Parents. What happened to the rest?
Ends
KEZEKIA was always a consistent student. He never missed classes. His parents had high hopes in him. They rejoiced when he obtained aggregate seven in the seven subjects he took at the O’ level. But their joy was short-lived.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) said Kezekia could not get a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) because he did not take the required number of subjects.
Some 12,500 candidates who sat the 2003 O’ level examinations will never get their certificates. Other than the 851 candidates whose results were cancelled for cheating, a total of 11,752 will miss the certificates for either failing or infringing on subject entry regulations.
Those who flouted subject entry regulations, for instance by not taking compulsory subjects like Maths and English, were put in Grade 7 according to Matthew Bukenya, UNEB secretary.
A candidate also gets Grade 7 if he does not take at least a science subject in Group 5 or if he/she enters for fewer than eight subjects (school candidates) or six subjects for private candidates. According to Bukenya, candidates awarded Grade 7 do not qualify for a certificate.
Odongo Nokrach, UNEB deputy secretary for secondary education, explained that Group 5 subjects are general sciences combining Physics, Biology and Chemistry but without the practicals papers. This is primarily meant for private candidates and schools without functional laboratories.
Candidates in schools with functional laboratories are required to take at least the three science subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Biology and Agriculture - both theories and practicals - in addition to Mathematics and a combination of other arts subjects totalling to at least eight.
Education Minister, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya said registering for less than eight subjects was illegal. He urged all the headteachers and teachers to inform parents and candidates.
“A certificate is academically useful. It indicates that you have completed one cycle in the education system. It indicates that you are ready for the next level of learning,†Makubuya said during the release of the 2003 O’ level examination results last Tuesday.
The 2003 O’ level results showed overall improvement in performance with 91.4% or 124,344 of the 140,221 registered candidates passing (Division One to Four) as opposed to a pass level of 87.6% in 2002. Candidates passing in Division One rose to 14.3% or 19,406 up from 9.4% the previous year. The failure rate dropped to 8.6% or 11,752 as opposed to 12.4% in 2002.
Bukenya attributed the impressive level of passes to good performance in English language and Mathematics. “Examiners also reported better quality work by candidates in 2003 compared to those of 2002,†he said.
Bukenya said there was also remarkable improvement in performance in English Language, History, Mathematics, Chemistry and Commerce and a decline in Agriculture. He, however, said candidates’ performance in mathematics and sciences, though improved, was still worrying with nearly 50% of those who took the subjects failing.
“Examiners put the poor performance to lack of practical experience by candidates. Evidence gathered by UNEB scouts during the examination showed that 33.6% of the centres visited lacked functional laboratories,†he said.
It was evident that government-aided schools performed better than private schools. Makubuya attributed this to various interventions including the supply of textbooks, laboratory equipment, chemicals for the teaching of science, building of seed schools and laboratories and improved methods of management including periodic transfer of teachers and headteachers.
The impressive performance was, however, dented by the cancellation of results of 851 candidates. As a warning to would-be cheats, UNEB withdrew the centre numbers for Kabazanga SS, Kasese, Hillside Academy, Itojo - Ntungamo, Wobulenzi High, Namulonge SS, Stena Hill School, Kampala, King’s College Bujuuko, Wakiso, Makindye College School and Bulasio Kkonde Memorial for cheating.
Royale Oasis College - Kampala, Busia Forward SS, Ntungamo Hall, St. John Bosco, Kamuli, Kabojja Parents, Royal Ranges secondary school - Kasese, Capricorn High School - Lira and Blessed Christian College in Kampala have also had their centre numbers withdrawn for diverting examination fees.
Also warned for massive cheating were St. Albert’s SS Kakindo, Mpigi Progressive, Central College - Nateete, Rugyeyo SS Karuhinda in Rukungiri, Equator College - Kampala, St. Anne’s Kihani - Ibanda, Namuganga SS - Kasawo, St. Leonard’s SS, Mpigi, Malongo Baptist Church - Rakai and Kingstone High School in Kampala.
As usual, the top candidates in the central region passed with aggregate eight in the best eight subjects, while even those with aggregate 37 were listed top in upcountry schools. The only surprise was Ayo Samuel, from St. Joseph’s College Layibi in Gulu who also got eight.
Surprisingly, only one of the 1999 Kampala PLE stars made it to the list of fame. It was only James Onyango, who sat from St. Mary’s College Kisubi that scored aggregate eight and was among the top candidates in Wakiso. He did his PLE at Kampala Parents. What happened to the rest?
Ends