The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is requesting a one-year extension for the phase-out of the old curriculum, which would allow students who might fail exams this year to have a second opportunity to take exams under the old curriculum next year. Ms. Jennifer Kalule, the spokesperson for UNEB, announced this during a press conference in Kampala on Monday.
This change is prompted by the recognition that Uganda is undergoing its first curriculum change, and there are students who may not perform well in the current exams, those who may not have the chance to sit for exams due to various reasons, and adult learners who have been following the old curriculum.
UNEB has officially written to the Ministry of Education and Sports requesting permission to establish a one-year transition period. During this time, students or learners who have not had the opportunity to take exams this year but have been studying under the old curriculum would be examined.
The current Senior Four candidates taking their exams are the last group of students following the old curriculum.
The proposed transition period will also allow UNEB to prepare exams for the current Senior Four students who would miss this year’s exams. However, UNEB is awaiting a response from the authorities before proceeding.
In 2020, the Ministry of Education and Sports introduced the new lower secondary curriculum, emphasizing assessing learners based on their competencies through integration activities and projects. Under this new curriculum, UNEB will partially grade students based on marks obtained through continuous assessment (class work) when they sit for the UCE examinations next year.
The new curriculum allocates 20 percent of the final UCE results to continuous assessment conducted by schools and submitted to Uneb through a portal, with the remaining 80 percent coming from the final exam. This is a departure from the previous system where learners were evaluated solely based on 100 percent Uneb examinations.
Minister of State for Higher Education, Mr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, stated that he was not aware of UNEB’s request, indicating that the request might have been directed to the main minister, Ms. Janet Museveni.
Am in support of the proposal and schools as well to build capacity to handle and sustain it, meanwhile better strategy for Dit,and projects enhanced.
I don’t agree with the proposal of claiming that learners who may fail shud repeat ” now how about next year if thy also fail should thy extend also another Year? Maybe if UNEB has another reason but not that! And lemi hope UNEB is a competent body not like DIT so I totally disagree will the the proposal
Very right
To cater for them it’s good but i hope it will not show a good image to our implementation of new curriculum.
Then if uneb sets two examinations, will it be hard for those who are to mark.
good and brilliant idea