The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results, marking the inaugural assessment under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), also known as the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC).
This significant shift aims to enhance students’ practical skills and critical thinking abilities.
Total Candidature
A total of 359,417 candidates registered for the 2024 UCE examinations, with 177,133 males (49.3%) and 182,284 females (50.7%). Among these, 136,785 (38.1%) were beneficiaries of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) program, while 222,632 (61.9%) were non-USE candidates.
The examination saw a high attendance rate, with 357,120 candidates (99.4%) present and only 2,297 (0.6%) absent. Notably, the absenteeism rate continues to decline, indicating improved student engagement.
Special Needs Education (SNE) Candidates
The 2024 UCE examination accommodated 743 Special Needs Education candidates, comprising 354 males and 389 females. These included individuals who are blind (31), those with low vision (138), the deaf (71), dyslexic students (100), and the physically handicapped (70).
An additional 333 candidates with other forms of disabilities were provided extra time during the examinations. Only five SNE candidates (0.7%) were absent, reflecting a commendable participation rate.
Prison Inmates
UNEB extended examination opportunities to incarcerated individuals, registering 28 candidates from Uganda Government Upper Prison, Luzira (27 males and 1 female), and 11 from Mbarara Main Prison (all male).
All candidates from both facilities sat for the examination and qualified for the UCE certificate, underscoring the inclusivity of Uganda’s education system.
General Performance
The CBC introduces a new grading system, reporting performance through achievement levels denoted by letter grades A, B, C, D, and E. This system moves away from the traditional division rankings, focusing instead on competency levels.
A candidate qualifies for the UCE certificate by obtaining a minimum competency level grade of D in at least one subject. The 2024 results reveal that 350,146 candidates (98.05%) met this criterion, thereby earning their UCE certificates.
Subject Performance
Exceptional performance was observed in subjects such as Art and Design, History & Political Education, Agriculture, and Mathematics. Conversely, higher proportions of candidates achieved only elementary levels (below basic level) in Physics, followed by Chemistry and English Language.
Examiners noted challenges in science practical assessments, where candidates often struggled to interpret scenarios, connect them to real-life situations, and draw meaningful conclusions.
In language subjects, difficulties included inadequate vocabulary, inability to paraphrase in summary writing, and inappropriate examples in comprehension and literature analysis. A common challenge across subjects was the difficulty in linking scenarios to real-life problem-solving, a core competency of the new curriculum.
Performance by Gender
Analysis of large-entry subjects indicates that female candidates outperformed their male counterparts in English Language, Christian Religious Education, and Art and Design.
However, in subjects such as History and Political Education, Geography, Mathematics, Agriculture, Chemistry, and Biology, a lower proportion of females achieved exceptional and outstanding levels compared to males.
Examination Malpractice
The 2024 UCE examinations recorded a significant reduction in malpractice cases, with 64 incidents involving 984 candidates, compared to nearly 3,000 cases in the previous year. The majority of these cases (93.1%) occurred in science practical papers, particularly Physics.
Evidence suggested that some candidates received experimental results from teachers, leading to discrepancies between the work done and the results recorded. UNEB emphasized the need for strict adherence to examination regulations to maintain the integrity of the assessment process.
The release of the 2024 UCE results under the new Competency-Based Curriculum marks a pivotal moment in Uganda’s education system, reflecting a commitment to developing practical skills and critical thinking among students.
