The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the 2024 examination timetable. For the first time, candidates under the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC) will sit for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), alongside those sitting for the transitional UCE examination based on the old curriculum.

“This year, UNEB will conduct four sets of examinations (4Es), including the UCE under both the new and old curricula, Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE),” UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo announced in a press statement. 

He emphasized that this move is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for students who either missed their exams in 2023 or needed to repeat the examination. 

The examination dates are as follows:   

The 2024 Uganda National Examinations will begin on Friday, October 11, 2024, with the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations for both the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC) and the transitional examination under the old curriculum.  

The UCE exams will run until Friday, November 8, 2024, for the new curriculum candidates, while the transitional examination will conclude on Friday, November 15, 2024.

The Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) will take place from Monday, November 4, 2024, to Thursday, November 7, 2024.

For Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) candidates, the examinations will start on Friday, November 8, 2024, and end on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Odongo highlighted this year’s theme, “Embracing security and holistic assessment of learners in a dynamic environment.” He called on all stakeholders to prioritize the integrity of the examinations. “The sacredness of the examinations must be preserved to ensure that learners are awarded grades that truly reflect their abilities,” Odongo said.

The introduction of the NLSC has brought changes in assessment methods, with more emphasis on holistic evaluation. “We are now embracing global trends in learner assessment, where projects and continuous assessments contribute to the overall grade,” he added.

The total number of candidates sitting for the 2024 exams has risen to 1,320,400, representing a 7.8% increase from the previous year. Notably, there has been a sharp rise in UACE candidates, with 142,017 registered, a 28.4% increase compared to 2023.

Of the total candidature, 51.1% are female, while 48.9% are male. At the PLE level, 798,763 candidates have registered, reflecting a 6.6% increase, while 379,620 candidates are expected to sit for UCE. Special Needs Education (SNE) learners have also seen a rise, with 4,498 candidates registered, up from 3,698 in 2023.

The NLSC features 36 subjects, a reduction from the 46 offered under the old curriculum. Among the new subjects is Ugandan Sign Language, with 72 pioneer candidates, and Physical Education, which will be examined for the first time. In addition, foreign languages like Arabic and Latin will now include listening and speaking assessments.

“These innovations are meant to provide a fair and comprehensive evaluation of learners’ competencies,” Odongo explained.

Odongo urged schools to ensure timely submission of Continuous Assessment (CA) scores, which contribute 20% to learners’ final grades. “We have extended the deadline for CA submission to October 30, 2024. Any candidates without these scores will not be graded,” he warned, urging parents to engage with schools to confirm submission.

Odongo concluded by urging candidates, parents, and school administrators to familiarize themselves with the examination regulations. “Involvement in malpractice will lead to the cancellation of results for the entire examination. Candidates must uphold discipline and integrity throughout the process,” he stressed.

By ChimpReports