According to news reports, anyone who fails the O’Level examinations under the new syllabus might risk restarting from Senior One as a mandatory procedure. Legislators, however, are still opposing this practice, as it would result in a total of 8 years in O’Level if a student fails, which is considered a waste of time by many.
The confusion surrounding the newly implemented secondary curriculum continues as the Ministry of Education is still unclear about the fate of 6,974 students who did not meet the qualifications for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) following the results of the 2024 Senior Four examinations.
Data from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) reveals that these students were unable to achieve a minimum grade of D in at least one subject, rendering them ineligible for certification. Under the previous curriculum, these students would have fallen into Division 9, indicating failure.
Under the former system, such students would have been prompted to retake the examination. However, the Ministry of Education has yet to clarify if this will apply to students under the new curriculum.
“Given that it is a new curriculum, many of these students are still in the process of learning, and this is one of the matters we are actively addressing. We will conduct a review soon to provide direction,” stated Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
This ambiguity arises after UNEB declared that only students who have received certificates will be eligible for admission to Senior Five, creating uncertainty over whether these learners will need to repeat Senior Four, or perhaps return to Senior Three or even Senior One.
According to UNEB regulations, students are required to accumulate continuous assessment results from a minimum of two years—Senior Three and Senior Four—before they can sit for the final exam. The current dilemma is how to evaluate the progress of these “repeaters” and assign grades accurately.
Another unanswered question pertains to mature-age entry for O’Level candidates. UNEB has historically permitted older students to register for examinations under this category, but the Ministry of Education has not yet offered clarity on this issue.
This situation is not the first instance of the Ministry encountering difficulties concerning the new curriculum and the transition from the older system. Initially, there was a lack of strategy for students under the previous curriculum who might not pass the UCE examinations in 2023.
To fill this gap, the Minister permitted these candidates to take a one-time transitional examination. However, over 1,600 students have failed this final exam offered last year and are now unable to progress in their education or retake the exam.
Speaking about the education issue in Parliament, Kalungu West MP, Hon. Sewungu Joseph, also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the Advanced Level of education and the new curriculum that graduates of the O’Level new curriculum will adopt.
He expressed his disappointment over the uncertainty surrounding the new A-Level curriculum. He questioned the opaque grading system, the not-yet-known content students will study, and the availability of curriculum books. He demanded clarity on where the new S.4 graduates will enroll and urged the government to provide the curriculum.
“How can students prepare for their future without a clear roadmap?” he exclaimed.
Meanwhile, for those still confused about who passed and who did not, the Ministry of Education and Sports provides the following results:
- Result 1 – Qualifies to receive a certificate.
- Result 2 – Does not meet the minimum requirement for a certificate (e.g., may have no project work, fewer than 9 subjects).
- Result 3 – Did not meet the minimum level of achievement in these subjects.
