As the 2023 Senior Four candidates get ready for their exams, they are set to be the last group to be examined under the old secondary curriculum. Schools are currently preparing their Senior Four classes, and there is an ongoing discussion about the fate of students who may not succeed in this final round.
Rev Henry Majwara, the Assistant Chaplain at Uganda Christian University, offered words of encouragement during a dedication prayer for the Senior Four class at Ndejje Secondary School. He urged the students to do their best to pass the exams, emphasizing that there would be no opportunity for them to repeat Senior Four in 2024.
Rev Majwara explained that the new lower secondary curriculum will only accommodate students who start afresh from Senior One. However, he expressed hope in the level of preparation the candidates have received.
The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams will kick off with the briefing of candidates nationwide next Friday.
Some parents and guardians have raised concerns about the fate of students who may fail or be unable to sit for the 2023 exams. They question how these students will fit into the new curriculum, which has a progressive assessment system starting from Senior One.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) Public Relations Officer, Ms. Jennifer Kalule Musumba, acknowledged these concerns, stating that they are genuine and currently under consideration by the Ministry of Education and stakeholders. She mentioned that Uneb has made proposals, possibly forming a plan B.
Mr. Charles Kahigiriza, the head teacher of Ndejje Secondary School, pointed out that the 2023 Senior Four class is the largest in the school’s history. He noted that unlike previous years, these students have studied for five years instead of the usual four, and they are well-prepared for the upcoming exams.
A recent statement from Uneb revealed that a total of 364,421 candidates are expected to sit for the 2023 UCE exam, slightly more than the 349,433 candidates who took the exam in 2022.