The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released the results of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 2023 examination, marking the last assessment conducted under the previous curriculum. Starting from the October/November 2024 session, UCE examinations will adhere to the New Lower Secondary Curriculum.
Traditionally, candidates failing an examination like this one would have the chance to retake it in subsequent sessions. However, due to significant changes in examination format and conditions, such opportunities will no longer be available.
According to UNEB chairperson Professor Celestino Obua, instances of examination malpractice have declined, with most reported cases involving external assistance during Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics practical examinations. Schools affected by result withholdings will be notified through their portals, with hearings scheduled accordingly.
In the UCE 2023 results, female candidates outperformed males in English Language, while males showed better performance in subjects like History, Geography, Sciences, and Commerce. However, in Chemistry, although male candidates excelled in higher grades, a slightly higher percentage of females obtained at least a Pass. This performance gap between genders has persisted over the years.
Examiners attribute low achievement levels in science subjects to factors such as inadequate teaching, lack of practical training, and shortages of science teachers in some schools. Most cases of examination malpractice at this level are observed in practical papers.
Performance in the sciences remains a concern, with fewer than 20 percent of candidates achieving Credit pass levels in Physics and Chemistry. However, there has been an improvement in Biology performance, which had been on a declining trend.
Overall, the performance in the 2023 UCE examination showed improvement compared to 2022, with a decrease in the failure rate. Approximately 95.9 percent of candidates can progress to post-UCE levels.
The total candidature for UCE 2023 increased by 4.3 percent from the previous year, with 32.5 percent of candidates being beneficiaries of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) program. The gender distribution among candidates was almost equal.
UNEB chairperson Professor Celestino Obua addressed concerns about UNEB grading, highlighting that allegations of selective grading and biases favoring certain regions were unfounded. Misinformation surrounding UNEB grading, including the circulation of false marks, has persisted despite being debunked in previous instances.
