Uganda National Examinations Board has withheld a total of 3500 exams over indulgence in malpractice.
Releasing exams 2018 Primary Leaving Examination, a total of 671,923 candidates registered to sit 2018 PLE from 13,072 centres across the country compared to 646,041 from 12, 751 in 2017. Over the last five years, the examination body has witnessed an increase of 66,955 candidates that register for examination.
Speaking at the release of exams, Mr Dan Odong, the Executive Secretary for UNEB said male candidates have slightly performed better than female candidates. In division one, (41604) 13.1 per cent of the male passed in division one compared to (35529) 10.5 per cent.
“Some schools in Bundibugyo district indulged in malpractice after security officers found teachers reading out answers to candidates. Parents had been made to pay Shs50,000 each to facilitate the malpractice,” He said adding that all the affected schools will be granted a fair hearing for subsequent release of their exams.
“UNEB has taken measures to eliminate malpractice but now the only challenge is teachers who give candidates chits to sneak into examination rooms with, a case in point is Bundibugyo district where teachers were found reading out answers to candidates,” He said.
Some of the schools include: Bundimulinga Primary Schools (Nyahuka town council, Bwamba County), Bubandi P/S (Busungo town council Bwamba County), Izahura sitting Center (which had Bupompoli P/s, Kihoko P/S, green cycle P/S in Bughendera County), Bundikahungu P/S (Nyahuka town council, Bwamba County) and Clever Origin (Bundibugyo Town Council, Bwamba County).
Odong said handwriting has slightly improved and it significantly contributed to the easing of the marking process of the exams.
Meanwhile the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni lashed out to school administrators saying no private school will be allowed to operate in the 2019 school year without a valid registration license.
The Minister remarked during the releasing of PLE examination where the Executive secretary for UNEB Dan Odong revealed that unregistered schools have continued to operate and dupe parents that they are unregistered and end up conning people off their money.
Giving examples of Bahrain Nursery and PS in Iganga, Busenga Junior School and At Peters PS in Butambala, Mr Odong said pupils discovered late that the school management didn’t submit in their papers for registration by the examination body.
“UNEB has set up systems to allow parents to check the registration status of their children, through the Mobile Phone. Every parent now has a phone, but what is that phone for if it can’t help you. Please make use it to avoid last time disappointments,” She said
She said the ministry will not allow teachers to operate schools in residential houses and temporary buildings. “We are going to set off site center in Jinja and other centers all over the country to thwart duping of parents, and whistle blowing policy to thwart malpractice,” she added.