Uganda National Examinations Board has deployed 20,000 people to mark Examinations of over 1,000,000 pupils and students (PLE, UCE & UACE) at 40 marking centres.
According to Jennifer Kalule-Musumba, the UNEB spokesperson, they have received concerns from parents and children at the 40 centres who claim the marking exercise has interfered with their studies.
She however explains that marking has to take place in order for the candidates to advance to the next level.
“If we do not mark at a particular time, the candidates will not be able to advance to the next level of S.1, S.5 and even the higher institutions of learning. So, the Ministry of Education has given us a lee way and asked these schools to stager their calendars to enable the candidates have 2-3 weeks, take a half term break to enable UNEB carry out the marking, and thereafter, the learners can be able to resume school without paying additional fees” Kalule said.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has urged schools not to charge additional fees and UNEB has emphasized this.
Meanwhile,
At least 30 people have been apprehended by Uganda National Examinations Board-UNEB working with security agencies, in connection to examination malpractice at all levels.
The 2020 national examination started with the UCE on February 26, 2021, PLE on March 26 followed by UACE, which is still ongoing. However, most of the candidates have completed their papers.
Kalumba told journalists at the Police headquarters in Naguru that the malpractices are school-based ranging from impersonation where candidates used other people to sit for the exams, copying, collusion and provision of external assistance.
She says that there are also isolated cases where individuals were found vending fake papers to several schools.
They are also investigating people who have been selling fake examination papers to unsuspecting schools, students and parents. He says police is handling this.
According to Kalule, those who committed offenses after April 1st 2021 will be tried under the UNEB Act 2021. Punishment for malpractices under the new Act range from payment of UGX 5,000,00 Fine or 5 years of imprisonment or both.
