UNEB to produce children who are able to generate wealth

Fagil Mandy is the new chairperson of the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB). He replaces Prof. Lutalo Bbosa. Mandy takes over the national examinations body at a time when examination system is under a lot of public scrutiny. Stephen Ssenkaaba interviewed him about his role and vision for the success of this body

What new ideas do you bring to this job?
I would like to sharpen the mandate of UNEB and to ensure that staff adheres to it, especially when it comes to observing minimum standards. Here I would like to ensure that UNEB not only sets and marks examinations but also follows up on schools to ensure that quality is maintained. I would also like to redefine and shape relationships between UNEB and other partners such as the National Curriculum Development Centre. I would like to draw attention to content of the examinations.

We will ensure that UNEB aims at setting examinations that enhance understanding of concepts as opposed to reproducing cram work. I would like to introduce testing of concepts like mental work. I will emphasise examinations that promote abilities such as comprehension, decision-making and logic. We need to move away from the predictable kind of exams.

As a former headteacher, former commissioner of inspectorate and now education consultant, you have played a key role in the shaping of the education system that you now so vehemently criticise. Why should we take you seriously?

I have never worked the same way. I am not part of the problem because throughout my involvement with education in this country, I have been starting new things. I have always sought to do things differently.  I chaired the Universal Primary Education (UPE) implementation committee. We produced the guidelines to basic requirements and minimum standard indicators in schools. I started science fairs in schools, music dance and drama festivals involving students from nursing and technical schools. Some of these have broken down. I have always been part of the solution, but it is not a one man’s job.

During your acceptance speech, you pledged, among other things, to ensure the implementation of national goals of education as stipulated in the education White Paper, which goals are you hoping to emphasise here?

All of them. This report has never been fully evaluated. This report talks about goals such as producing a child, who is able to generate wealth, understand the value of unity and democratic practice and have moral, ethical and humanitarian values. All these have never been evaluated. I will ensure that when setting exams, these goals are put into consideration. I know I will find some difficulties, but I will overcome them. I am going to senstise the public about these goals; I will use the mass media and carry out face-to-face interactions to promote them.

You take leadership of a body that is faced with a number of challenges. How do you intend to negotiate the challenges faced by this body, particularly with regard to examination malpractices?

I must first seek to understand the workings of UNEB; that way I will be able to know how to address the challenges that face this body. I intend to be vigilant to be on the ground and take personal interest in what goes on around. I hope to work with my colleagues to address security and to minimise leakages. Where need be, we shall bring in experts to advise us. We shall senstise the masses. We will also revise the marking system so that markers cannot identify the names and numbers of the schools they mark. We will strengthen counter checking of examinations and stop markers from identifying themselves in schools where they teach.

You have also highlighted the UNEB Act as one of the areas that need to be looked into. What do you want to do about this?

The UNEB Act is very old. And very weak. It does not provide sufficient remedies for problems like examination malpractices. It does not give UNEB enough power to do its job. When we start working, we would like to be protected by this law. That is why it should be strengthened.

What challenges do you intend to address when you get down to work? 

The existing law is very weak and does not protect us. We need to advocate a stronger law. The attitude of the public that exams are something to be scared about is an obstacle to progress which needs to be changed. I would like to see that students view examinations as an exciting exercise. I would also like to work on the mindset of UNEB staff.

I will also persuade the powers that be to play their part to address the issues that affect performance in examinations. Teacher absenteeism in schools is a serious challenge. I would like to urge the education ministry and sports to follow up on this. The pressure around examinations also affects performance.  We would like to reduce this pressure. I will encourage schools to emphasise talent development in schools.

What is your role as chairperson of UNEB?

As chairperson, I am the head of the UNEB Board which consists of about 33 members drawn from different institutions including Universities, secondary, primary and private schools as well as Business and Technical institutions. As the board, our job is to oversee the running of UNEB. It is our role to approve the plan and budget of UNEB.

Together with the other board members, I ensure that this body is correctly carrying out its mandate which is to set, administer, print, distribute exams and issue results. It is my role as chairman to see that all these duties are performed. I am not here simply to chair meetings but to ensure that the examination body performs well.  In order to do this well, I have to know how the system works. So I will go on the ground to study the situation. 

What are your concluding remarks?

I am very excited about this new assignment. UNEB has got some good people, but they need reinforcement and redirecting. I will work with my colleagues to take this body further.