By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the timetable for the 2024 national examinations. This is the first time that UNEB will be examining the candidates of the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC) for the award of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE).
According to UNEB, the four major exams this year, known as the 4Es, include the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) under both the new and old curricula, the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
While addressing the media earlier today, UNEB executive director Dan Odongo revealed that the 2024 exams will be different from previous years, particularly with the introduction of the NLSC.
“This year’s examinations will involve both the UCE based on the new curriculum and the transitional UCE, catering for students who missed or need to repeat their exams. The transitional examination is aimed at giving an opportunity to those that needed to repeat or those that missed the examination in 2023 for various reasons. This is a one –off examination under the old curriculum” Odongo said.
”Unlike previously when we had three sets of examinations, UNEB will this time round conduct Four Examinations (4Es), the UCE Examination based on the NLSC and the UCE (transitional examination), based on the old curriculum. This is the first time UNEB is examining candidates for the Uganda Certificate of Education under the New Lower Secondary Curriculum” he added.
According to UNEB, a total of 1,320,400 candidates are set to sit the 2024 exams with a 7.8% increase compared to 2023. Of this number, 379,620 candidates are registered for the UCE exams, while 798,763 will sit for the PLE.
”We have recorded a very significant increase in candidature at UACE level this year with 142,017 candidates, compared to last year’s candidature of 110,579. This reflects an increase of 28.4%. At PLE level, the increase stands at 6.6% with a total of 798,763 candidates registered” Odongo further noted.
Odongo further emphasized the critical need to uphold the security and sanctity of the examination process adding that the board has introduced strict measures, including detailed guidelines for candidates.
“We must ensure the integrity of the exams. Malpractice compromises the authenticity of a candidate’s results and the educational system as a whole. Any involvement in examination malpractice in one paper will result in the cancellation of the entire exam,” Odongo cautioned.
