Uganda’s Examinations body, the National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially declared that it will kick off its National Examinations Calendar next month.
This will commence with a briefing of senior four (S.4) candidates as their first exam Uganda Certificate of Education-UCE.
This will be followed by Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) with a briefing on November 7.
Unlike the other years where students would get a break after briefing, primary seven candidates this time will begin the exam the next day and finish on November 9.
Additionally, the schedule states that senior six candidates will begin their series on November 18 and continue until December 9.
✳ PLE
🔵 November 7th – Candidate Briefing
➡ November 8th – Mathematics
➡ November 8th – SS & RE
➡ November 9th – Integrated Science
➡ November 9th – English
✳ UCE
🔵 October 14th – Candidate Briefing
➡ October 17th – Start of UCE exams
➡ November 18th – End of UCE exams
✳ UACE
🔵 November 18th – Candidate Briefing
➡ November 21st – Start of UACE exams
➡ December 9th – End of UACE exams
While releasing the results last month, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo noted that with the timetables out, teachers should ensure that the necessary teaching and learning, as well as psych-social support is offered to candidates in the remaining time, for effective preparation.
Odongo also noted that unlike in previous years, the board has this time provided for the visually impaired students by providing brail and large print timetables. Odongo says this is done to ensure that this group of learners also get a chance to individually read the timetables.
James Turyatemba, the Manager in charge of Examination Management at UNEB, also mentioned that the board is assessing the possibility of increasing the remuneration of the invigilators, scouts, and special needs interpreters to keep up with current living expenses.
For instance, Turyatemba says that the invigilators have been receiving 40,000 Shillings. “In light of the fact that everything is becoming costly, this payment might not be sufficient, the board is considering adding on something to match the current situation.”
While commenting on the issue of remuneration, Odongo pointed out that it might necessitate the board to ask for extra funding from the government given the fact that what they have might not be enough. However, he noted that the precise payment that will be given out to the invigilators and other examination day officials is yet to be decided.
According to the budget framework paper, the board had asked for 145 billion Shillings to run their activities and Turyatemba says that over 50 billion Shillings of this is for examination management. Last year, the board also had to request for additional 10.5 billion shillings to help them conduct examinations in the COVID-19 environment.
For all three levels of the final exams, 1,280,172 students have registered. Comparing this to last year’s exam, it shows a percentage increase of 7.7 per cent in the overall number of candidates. Out of the registered candidates, 56 per cent representing 751,336 learners are funded by the Government, while 44 per cent of candidates are privately sponsored.
CLICK TO READ A level timetable 1
CLICK TO READ A level timetable 2
Credit: URN