2019 UCE: Over 1,200results withheld as boys beat girls

By George Mangula

Uganda National examinations Board (UNEB) have withheld results of 1262 students due to suspected malpractices that took place as the Senior Four candidates sat for the examinations in 2019.

This was revealed by the Chairperson of UNEB Prof Mary Okwakol at the release of the 2019 Uganda Certification of Education (UCE) examination results at the office of the prime minister in Kampala, with the results showing that boys performed better than girls at all the higher grades than their female counterparts.

Prof Okwakol attributed the decline in examination malpractice to various interventions put in place. She further revealed that those whose results were withheld will be called for a hearing which will follow the board’s process.

She said malpractice cases reduced to 1262 in 2019 from 1825 cases in 2018. These cases are a result of teachers providing assistance to the students during practicals and students copying from one another particularly in the science subjects.

“Malpractice at UCE2019 level has significantly reduced. We should recognise UNEB’s efforts in making this happen. It should be viewed as a way of fighting corruption,” Janet Kataaha Museveni said, the education minister while commenting on the results.

“Results are withheld in accordance with the law, and to give the affected a fair hearing,” Dr Dan Odong, UNEB Executive Secretary said as he released the results.

Meanwhile, results show that overall performance of UCE candidates in 2019 improved with 92.2 percent compared to 87.2 percent last year. Failure rate dropped significantly to 7.8 percent in 2019 from 12.8 percent in 2018.

There was overall improvement in Biology, Geography, Agriculture, Chemistry and Fine Art. Female students performed better than males in the English language. “This has always happened over the years. However, the boys manage to make their way around in other subjects and beat the girls,” Odong said.

“The teaching of the English language has degenerated to encouraging learners to cram content that consists of very complicated words. This needs to stop as it is not helping our students,” Mrs Janet Museveni added.

However, for the first time more girls than boys registered and sat for the UCE. But there is great concern about the low achievement levels of girls in science and mathematics subjects. UNEB wants an investigation into this.

According to Odong, of the 337,720 students who sat the UCE2019, 144,256 were USE beneficiaries. They make up 42.7 percent of the number of students who sat the exams.

A total of 410 special needs candidates registered for the 2019 UCE examination, as compared to 357 in 2018. According to Odong, The number consisted of the blind, those with low vision, the deaf, the dyslexics and physically handicapped.

The Number of students who registered for the UCE 2019 exams increased by a moderate 0.7 percent. “Although the rate of increase is smaller than that of 2018 it demonstrates that more learners are completing our UCE cycle,” Prof Okwakol.

“In PLE more girls sat compared to boys. Now in the UCE 2019 exams, the same thing has happened. I was happy to note that 50.5 percent of the Makerere Graduates this year were female. This is something to be happy about,” Ms Janet Museveni said.

“Just because we acknowledge more girls sitting for exams doesn’t mean that we want the boys to fail. We want the ideal 50-50. We celebrate the girls because they have overcome ideas that limit them.”

The entire curriculum and co-curricular activities are meant to develop the learners in a holistic manner. I implore teachers to ensure that learners assess all the learning in the curriculum, she said.

Selection of Senior Five students will take place at UMA show ground from February 13-14, 2020.