The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has reported a significant reduction in cases of examination malpractice in the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
The number of suspected cases dropped from nearly 3,000 last year to 984 this year, marking a major improvement in exam integrity.
Speaking at the release of the results at State House Nakasero, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo attributed the decline to changes in the competency-based curriculum, which has made cheating more difficult.
However, he noted that the majority of reported malpractice cases were concentrated in science practicals, particularly Physics.
“In the Science cases, there is overwhelming evidence that candidates were given experimental results by teachers merely to copy. The work done by candidates did not relate to the results recorded,” Odongo said.
According to UNEB, 93.1% (883 cases) of the malpractice incidents occurred in Science subjects, while only 6.9% (65 cases) were in other subjects.
Success Among Special Candidate Groups
The results also highlighted notable achievements among special candidate groups, particularly prison inmates.
At Uganda Government Upper Prison School, Luzira, 28 candidates were registered, with 27 sitting for the examination. All candidates qualified for the UCE certificate. Similarly, at Mbarara Main Prison Inmates’ Secondary School, all 11 registered candidates sat for the exams and successfully earned their certificates.
Shift to Letter Grade Reporting System
In a major departure from the old grading system, UNEB Chairperson Prof. Celestino Obua explained that the achievement levels in the new competency-based curriculum are now reported using letter grades A, B, C, D, and E, instead of the previous stanine system of 1 to 9 (Distinctions, Credits, Pass, and Fail).
“The Board’s decision to adopt letter grades was based on the need to make the transcripts and certificates easier for stakeholders to understand,” Prof. Obua stated. “Additionally, the descriptors of these grades will focus on what the certificate holder is capable of doing, rather than just their performance in exams.”
The 2024 UCE results mark a historic shift in Uganda’s education assessment system, with UNEB embracing holistic learning and a more competency-driven approach.
