By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
NATIONAL
In the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, notable achievements were recorded, particularly among special candidate groups, including prison inmates, who demonstrated remarkable performance and determination despite challenging circumstances.
At the Uganda Government Upper Prisons School in Luzira, 28 candidates registered for the UCE examinations. Out of these, 27 candidates successfully sat for the examinations, with one candidate unable to attend. Impressively, all 27 candidates who sat for the exams qualified for the UCE certificate, showcasing their resilience and dedication to education.
Similarly, at the Mbarara Main Prison Inmates’ Secondary School, all 11 registered candidates participated in the examinations and achieved the qualification for the UCE certificate. These accomplishments underscore the effectiveness of educational programs within the prison system, providing inmates with opportunities for personal growth and rehabilitation.
The 2024 UCE examinations marked the first cohort under the new system, with a total of 359,417 candidates registered. The gender breakdown revealed a nearly equal distribution, with 177,133 (49.3%) male candidates and 182,284 (50.7%) female candidates.
A significant portion of the candidates were beneficiaries of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) program. Out of the total candidates, 136,785 (38.1%) were USE beneficiaries, while 222,632 (61.9%) were non-USE candidates.
Exam attendance was commendable, with 357,120 candidates (99.4%) sitting for the exams, and only 2,297 (0.6%) being absent. The absenteeism rate showed a positive decline, reflecting improved commitment and participation among students.
Notably, there was a significant reduction in cases of malpractice. This year, 64 cases involving a total of 984 candidates were reported, a substantial decrease compared to nearly 3,000 suspected cases last year. The majority of malpractice cases were in the science practical papers, particularly Physics, where 883 (93.1%) of the cases were reported. The rest of the subjects accounted for only 65 (6.9%) of the cases. In these instances, candidates were found to have been given experimental results by teachers to copy, rather than conducting the experiments themselves.
Under the new competency-based assessment system, there is no ranking of candidates into divisions, as was done in the previous curriculum. A candidate will qualify for the UCE certificate if they obtain a competency level grade of D in at least one subject. The overall results indicate that 350,146 (98.05%) of the candidates who sat for the exams qualified for the UCE certificate, which will be indicated as Result 1 on their transcripts and certificates.
Candidates who did not meet the conditions for the UCE certificate, such as not sitting for some compulsory subjects, not sitting for a minimum of eight subjects, or lacking Project Work scores, will have Result 2 indicated on their transcripts.
The 2024 UCE examinations have demonstrated the potential for educational excellence among all candidate groups, including those in special circumstances. The achievements of prison inmates serve as a testament to the transformative power of education and the commitment of educators and students alike in overcoming challenges tosuccess academic success.
