By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
NATIONAL
More than 37,900, senior Four candidates will commence writing their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams this morning.
Today exams mark the beginning of this year’s four examination series administered by the Uganda National Examinations Board, with the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) set to start next month.
Dan Odongo, the executive director of UNEB, last week said 379,620 candidates registered for this year’s UCE. They include 369,477 candidates who will be assessed under the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC), and 10,143 for the transitional examination.
The candidates will write exams at over 4000 Examination centres across the country.
The UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer, Jennifer Kalule Musamba on Sunday said that candidates examined under the NLSC will begin today with Mathematics 1 whereas candidates sitting for the transition exams will begin with Chemistry 3 practicals at 9am.
Musamba yesterday told this publication that examination materials were distributed to all centres across the country. According to her, the centres will distribute examination papers before 30 minutes before the exams begin at 9am.
Meanwhile, parents and headteachers have been cautioned against fraudster who claim to have copies of uneb exams and extort from unsuspecting members of the public.
At least two people including the school headteacher and Director of Studies have so far been arrested and arraigned before court for possession of fake PLE exams, and disseminating false information. The two are Dennis Juko (headteacher) and Moses Ejangu (director of studies), both officers at St. Mary’s Junior School, Namirembe, Kapeka, in Nakaseke district. They were remanded to Morukatipe Prison in Tororo after being found in unauthorized possession of PLE papers. They allegedly posed as Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) examiners and started extorting money from parents and schools via WhatsApp groups promising to sell them exams.
Heads of schools were also cautioned against interfering with candidates who have not yet completely paid their fees. UNEB urged headteachers to allow candidates with school dues balance to sit for exams and share their particulars with UNEB to help them recover their money before releasing results of the affected candidates.
“We request that all learners be given an opportunity to write exams in an an environment that is conducive without being harassed for school fee balance,” said Musamba.
