UNEB has
defied its traditional odds
By John Blanshe Musinguzi
For the second time, Uganda National Examination Board
(UNEB) computers used to store examination results have once again crashed. It
was first reported on 1st January this year that soft ware used to
run UNEB computers had crashed. At first, outgoing UNEB secretary Bukenya
termed that fault as something small which had been worked on. About a month
later, how comes that this technical fault is surfacing once again?.
Traditionally, Primary leaving examination (PLE)
would have been released by now and parent would be planning which school to
take their children to by assessing them on the quality of education and
discipline. Students would be preparing how to battle secondary school life
after tales of bullying and teasing. Those who fail attain minimum required marks would be preparing to repeat
primary seven while others would choose to hang up and leave education at
primary school level.
Senior graduates would be counting just days to have
their Uganda certificate of education (UCE) result released. Unfortunately,
they cannot think about their result when the fate of PLE is not yet
determined.
UNEB had promised to release PLE results by end of
this month which is saying goodbye with just five days to go. Everyone remains
sceptical even UNEB chairman Fagil Mandy whether results will be ready by end
of this earlier promised date. A statement chased away by secretary Bukenya
The examination body is too suffering from
bankruptcy. Those who marked PLE received their money about two weeks ago while
those who marked senior four results are yet to receive their salaries. I
telephoned one of them today and he confirmed that he has not received
anything. At the beginning of January, UNEB postponed marking of UACE results which
was supposed to start on 2nd January to shortage of funds. Marking
exercise started a week and a half later after UNEB received money from
education ministry.
It’s ridiculous that government cannot even provide
necessary funds to UNEB, one of ought to be functioning body in Uganda. After
failing to fund Universal Primary Education (UPE), this is what we being
rewarded by NRM government. Government officials are praising UPE but none of
them even an LC 1 chairperson are taking their children to these government
aided schools. This is a testimony of quality of education from these schools.
Across boarder everything is smooth, in Kenya, Kenya
certificate of primary education (KCPE) equivalent to PLE were released on 31st
December 2013 and those to be admitted to standard one have already been
shortlisted. In Rwanda Primary leaving examination (PLE) and Ordinary Level (O’
Level) results were released on 16th January this month.
I would say, if all fails, we can sell UNEB to Sudhir.
First, he would invest in this examination body much money to pay examiners as
wells fund purchase of new and up to date computers. With him we wouldn’t
suffer from politics of how replaces who when and how. When time comes to recruit workers, he would
recruit those whose CV is sounding. If they fail to yield desired outcome, he
would sack them without asking anyone.
The author is pursuing bachelors of
Journalism and Communication at Makerere University
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