By Priscillah Owomugisha,
NATIONAL
The Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) assessment examinations started today across the country.
Speaking to the press at Public Health Nurses College in Ntinda, the Board Executive Secretary Onesmus Oyesigye revealed that a total of 87,800 candidates from 601 examination centres were registered to do the exams.
They are 33,504 female candidates and 54,296 males.
However, in most parts of the country there was delayed deliveries of examination materials and this affected some areas within the city centre in Kampala. Some examinatiom centres reported inadequate number of question papers delivered not tallying with the number of candidates supposed to sit for the respective subjects. This forced some heads of centres to photocopy examination question papers thus affecting the examination schedules.
A number of students reportedly missed the morning session Papers due to yet to establish reasons.
UBTEB examinations will be conducted in two phases and this according to Oyesigye is to enable maximum supervision, coordination and monitoring of the examinations.
“Phase one examinations commenced on 18th November with briefing of candidates while phase two will commence on 2nd December 2022 with briefing of candidates,” he said
Oyesigye further noted that; ”National Certificate-Technical and Uganda Community Polytechnic Certificate will sit their exams from 18th November to 2nd December, Physical Sciences, Biological and Agricultural Sciences from 2nd -20th December, Business and Humanities from 2nd to 16th December while those of Higher and National Diploma-Technical and Vocational programmes will do their exams from 2nd to 22nd December 2022.”
As part of enhancing inclusive education, UBTEB registered a total of 67 candidates with special needs pursuing various academic TVET professions. These include cases of; Dyslexic, Visual impairment (blind), Hard of hearing (deaf) and Physical disability.
“The Special needs candidates will be accorded specialized education arrangements such as sign language interpreters and transcribers, while others will be accorded extra 30 minutes. The Board has accordingly deployed 67 support personnel to assist candidates with special needs,” said Mr. Oyesigye.
The Board has deployed over 5000 Examinations managers that is; Area Coordinators, Supervisors, Practical Assessors and Verifiers.
About 3,693 practical Assessors and 50 verifiers have been deployed to conduct on spot assessment of candidates in the fields of cosmetology, catering and engineering programmes. These include the practitioners and others from world of work.
Five examination centres in Mubende and Kasanda Districts which are under lockdown due to Ebola outbreak have also been given special considerations.
“The Examination centres have been advised to ensure total compliance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.” UBTEB has noted
The Board has appealed to heads of centres and candidates to adhere and observe Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines on Covid-19 and Ebola pandemic issued by the Ministry of Health.
Candidates have been urged to desist from involvement in any form of examinations malpractices.
