As pupils countrywide commence their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has issued a warning to schools to desist from any form of malpractice.
In a statement issuing the warning, Jennifer Kalule Musamba the Principal Public Relations Officer, UNEB said any student or school found engaging in malpractice will have their results withheld and canceled.
Kalule said the ministry has of late realised that many cases of malpractice arise out of the fact that candidates were not well briefed. She implored school heads to inform the candidates, among other things of the circumstances that may lead to disqualification or cancellation of results.
She said such situations may include but not limited to smuggling unauthorised materials into the examination room, copying from one another, both are the person being copied from and the one copying are culpable, external assistance, prior knowledge, impersonation, and improper behaviour including threatening or attacking examination officials.
“The candidates should have their IDS, at least two pens, and should not write their work in pencil, except for drawings The detailed guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the examination are on the Time table,” Kalule said.
“We caution against involvement in any form of examination malpractice. Anyone found or convicted will be dealt with in accordance with the UNEB ACT 2022,” she added.
Kalule however revealed there are a few cases of examination malpractice that the ministry has since registered in the ongoing Uganda Certificate Examinations.
She said the cases mainly involve impersonation, and one incident of sharing of a fake paper, that was purported to be of the very exam.
She mentioned a number of other cases are due for hearing in Court, while others are still being investigated.
“In Nabweru Magistrate’s Court, the impersonation case involving the Headteacher of Standard SS is due for mention this morning. In Kamuli, the Director of Mustard Seed SS, Busoota, and the Director of Studies were remanded to Kamuli government Prison last Friday for allegedly abetting and aiding impersonation during UCE Geography and Mathematics papers,” she revealed.
“The ruling on their bail application will be made today at Kamuli Magistrate’s Court,” added.