Boys have emerged as the top performers, outshining their female counterparts in the recently released 2023 national Islamic examinations. Dr. Hassan Kiyingi, the executive secretary of the Uganda National Examination Committee for Idaad (Senior Four) and Thanawi (Senior Six) (UNECIT), revealed that more boys achieved Division One grades compared to girls.
During the announcement of the exam results at the Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU) Kampala Campus, Dr. Kiyingi reported that in the Idaad category, 189 boys attained first-grade results, while only 110 girls achieved the same. Similarly, in the Thanawi level, 47 boys secured top grades compared to just 13 girls.
The increase in the number of schools participating in UNECIT, from 23 in 2022 to 32 in 2023, led to a surge in the total number of candidates sitting for the exams, rising from 461 to 748 students last year. Despite this growth, the disparity in performance between boys and girls remained evident.
Dr. Kiyingi highlighted the subjects that performed exceptionally well, such as Tilawah (Quran recitation) and Tawheed (theology), while expressing concern over the poor performance in Hadith and Arabic Grammar. Efforts are underway to improve these subjects, given their significance in higher levels of learning and teaching.
The top-performing schools at both Idaad and Thanawi levels were identified, including Buziga Islamic Theological Institute, Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, and Emirates High School for Idaad, and Buziga Islamic Theological Institute, Masaka Islamic Centre, and Kampala Islamic Secondary School for Thanawi.
Dr. Hafithu Walusimbi, the chairperson of UNECIT, emphasized the importance of adapting the Islamic curriculum to meet current educational demands. Recognizing the need for Muslim students to compete internationally, a review process for the Islamic curriculum in secondary schools has been initiated. The revised curriculum aims to incorporate vocational and technical skills alongside traditional subjects to align with the Ministry of Education and Sports’ focus on skill development.
