The Uganda National Examinations Board – UNEB has announced they have withheld results of 113 candidates pending review over reported irregularities including malpractice.
“In accordance with Section 4 (3) of the UNEB Act, 2021, the UNEB has withheld results of 113 candidates, and will accord the affected candidates a fair hearing before passing a final verdict,” Dan Odongo the UNEB, Executive Director made the remarks on Friday during the release of the 2022 UACE exams.
A total of 97,889 candidates registered for the examination from 1,969 Centres. Of these, 42% were females while 58% were males. Female candidates performed better than their male counterparts at the principal level pass (A-E) in Arts (Humanities), Mathematic and Physics. Male candidates were better in Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology, Art and General Paper.
Odongo said there was a drastic decline in performance in Biology as a subject as compared to that of 2020, where it had risen. He said this has been attributed to many candidates showing a lot of problems in questions on genetics, and classification, among others.
“As was the case in the 2020 examination, female candidates proportionally in terms of percentages performed better than the males at all levels, and have shown a lower failure rate. Even at individual subject levels, they have shown a better performance,” he said.
On his side, the State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon JC Muyingo said the outlook of the results could have been better if teachers were rendering services within the approved and designated time.
He also cited absenteeism as another major challenge that has contributed to the failure of some students. Muyingo said it has become a norm for many students to dodge classes and school which has hindered their performance.
“Absenteeism continues to be the biggest challenge the education sector faces. I call upon head teachers and the Ministry of Education and Sports to carry out strict supervision of the culpable staff,” Muyingo said.