UNEB should brief schools early

Jan 24, 2010

EDITOR—Some schools in Uganda seem to be on a different planet! There was a scenario when the headmaster and bursar of St Balikuddembe S.S. Lwabenge, denied S4 students their right to attend a UNEB briefing in 2008 until they brought a pair of alkaline batteries meant for the physics practical ex

EDITOR—Some schools in Uganda seem to be on a different planet! There was a scenario when the headmaster and bursar of St Balikuddembe S.S. Lwabenge, denied S4 students their right to attend a UNEB briefing in 2008 until they brought a pair of alkaline batteries meant for the physics practical examination.

While still in secondary, the teachers informed us that briefing was the first exam and even appeared on the examination time-table. Therefore, wasn’t St Balikuddembe’s action of sending students for batteries an act of ‘spotting’ or cheating?

I learnt this when I called home to talk to my sister, Beatrice, to encourage her a day before the examinations only to hear her crying that she had missed the briefing because she didn’t have the sh1,000 needed to buy the batteries! She told me that over 20 pupils missed the briefing and even those who attended entered late when the briefing was already in progress.
I was very surprised because my father had not sent me any money for upkeep at the university because he had spent sh80,000 on the registration and other school requirements for my sister.

While at home during the festive season, my siblings presented to me report cards with blank spaces indicating missing marks. They explained that there were problems among the teachers that had brought about the situation.

They told me that the examinations were properly marked but the marks were omitted out of malice. Some pupils missed exams because their director of studies disliked some teachers. Imagine a similar situation in 2009 where S4 candidates were sent away to buy a pair of batteries two days to the briefing and on the day of the practicals, sent away to buy bulbs for the torches. A moment later, the school bursar appeared with a cane and a list of names containing fees defaulters! The affected students were delayed outside for a some time.

The unfortunate students had, in the course of the term, had it rough by being frequently sent home for building funds, brooms, reams of paper, toilet paper, etc. In the process, they had missed vital discussions, extra lessons and putting final touches to their examination preparations.
I appeal to Uganda National Examinations Board and the Ministry of Education and Sports to brief the headmasters early enough.

This is because parents in rural areas are ignorant of the steps to be taken in the event of such activities, and their rights and obligations. This has affected the performance of candidates simply because some headmasters are too money-minded and insensitive to other people’s feelings.

St Balikuddembe acquired an A’ level UNEB centre status thanks to the deputy headmaster. However, due to the impatient nature of the headmaster, he registered the S6 students in another school to undermine his deputy’s achievements and hiked registration fees from sh85,000 to sh125,000 for his selfish interests! I pray to the people concerned to look into this matter with utmost urgency so as to rectify the situation.

Frank Sserugo
Lwabenge, Masaka

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