Results from the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) for 2024 were released by UNEB on 11th February. In line with recent trends in national examinations, female candidates have once again outperformed male candidates.
Here are some important highlights from the recently released results:
A total of 359,417 students took the exams, with 177,133 (49.3%) being male and 182,284 (50.7%) female. There was an increase in exam attendance, with 357,120 candidates (99.4%) participating in the exams, while only 2,297 (0.6%) were absent. According to UNEB, the absentee rate continues to decrease.
Additionally, the number of non-USE (Universal Secondary Education) candidates was 136,785 (38.1%), while those benefiting from the USE program numbered 222,632 (61.9%).
It is important to note that this was the final year candidates sat for the old curriculum, which will no longer be offered moving forward. Within the old curriculum, a total of 10,141 candidates from 1,028 centers registered for the exam, with 4,369 (43.1%) being male and 5,373 (52.9%) female. Furthermore, 813 (8.0%) were USE beneficiaries, whereas 8,929 (88.0%) were non-USE. Of the registered candidates, 9,742 (96.1%) sat for the exam, comprising 4,369 males and 5,373 females. Unfortunately, 399 did not take advantage of this opportunity once again.
Achievements of Special Candidate Groups
Prison Inmates
At the Uganda Government Upper Uganda Prisons School in Luzira, 28 candidates were registered, of which 27 participated in the exam, while one candidate was absent. All candidates successfully qualified for the UCE certificate.
At the Mbarara Main Prison Inmates’ Secondary School, 11 students were registered, and all of them sat for the examination, with all qualifying for the UCE certificate as well.
GENERAL CANDIDATES’ PERFORMANCE IN THE 2024 UCE EXAMINATION
As previously mentioned, the reporting format for performance under the competency-based curriculum varies significantly from that of the old curriculum. Performance is now reported according to achievement levels represented by letter grades A, B, C, D, and E.
The achievement level for each subject is determined by scores obtained from the assessment of competencies at the school level, which includes Continuous Assessment (CA), as well as scores from competencies assessed in the final End of Cycle examination.
Under the competency-based assessment, there is no ranking of candidates into divisions as there was in the old curriculum. A candidate is eligible for the UCE Certificate if they achieve a competency level grade of D in at least one subject taken.
The overall results indicate that 350,146 candidates (98.05%) who participated qualified for the UCE certificate, which will be marked as Result 1 on their transcripts and certificates.
Candidates who did not meet the requirements for the UCE certificate will have Result 2 indicated on their transcripts. This category includes those who were absent from some compulsory subjects, those who did not sit for a minimum of eight subjects, or those who lack Project Work scores.
The images below illustrate what each letter signifies in terms of exam performance:
