By Spy Reporter
Kampal, Uganda: The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has condemned the high rates of examination cramming amongst students, which was observed by examiners while marking the 2018 Uganda Certificate of Education exams.
According to UNEB, there was significant evidence in the UCE exams of some candidates finding difficulties in answering questions due to possible cramming and spotting of particular topics. Education Minister Janet Museveni also criticized the practice of candidates cramming answers and spotting questions as counterproductive. While speaking at Statistics House during the release of the 2018 UCE results in Kampala on Thursday, Janet Museveni said schools lure parents to pay lots of money, including coaching fees, and end up pumping children with content which they force them to cram instead of helping them to read and understand what they are taught. The Minister said such children are unable to even answer questions set in exams because the tops keep changing. The UNEB executive secretary, Daniel Odongo, says some candidates, due to cramming, are unable to deal with questions that call for reasoning and problem-solving.
Results of 1,825 Candidates Withheld
Meanwhile, whereas several candidates performed well, there are those whose results were withheld because of engaging in examination malpractices. The affected students total to 1,825. Dan Odongo, the UNEB Executive Secretary, says 90 percent of the cases of examination malpractice were in Science subjects. He explained that teachers were the biggest culprits because they were found offering assistance to students. “We found that in some schools, no sort of practical lessons were carried out. Evidence shows that these lessons were carried out for the first time during the examination. Candidates could not explain steps well but would give a right answer.” Odong said. The UNEB board Chairman, Mary N. Okwakol says all affected schools will be given a fair chance to defend themselves.
