The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exam has witnessed significant arrests over several incidents of examination malpractice.
Jennifer Kalue, the UNEB spokesperson says over six schools countrywide have registered cases of malpractice and headteachers plus a chief invigilator have been arrested. There’s also an ongoing investigation into suspected malpractice among some candidates.
A chief invigilator at African Parl Secondary School in Kampala was arrested for allegedly providing unauthorized assistance during the Chemistry Paper 3 practical exam. This included suspected answers found in the exam room. Section 26 of the UNEB Act of 2021 states that allowing unauthorized assistance is an offense with potential fines and prison terms for those convicted.
Students from an undisclosed school in Kagadi were found with answer sheets filled with practical paper responses even though they hadn’t completed the practical sessions. This problem, involving teachers giving advanced knowledge to students, has been an ongoing issue.
Two headteachers, one from Kalagi and the other from Bushenyi, were arrested for sharing and receiving what appeared to be exam papers electronically. Sharing of exam materials via social media has been a growing problem, with counterfeit papers being circulated even before the official start of exams.
In Kwania District, the headteacher of Inomo SS was arrested for suspected tampering with an envelope containing exam papers, which is also an offense under the UNEB Act of 2021.
Additionally, there’s an investigation in Kagadi involving two students who swapped index numbers during Geography exams, which could be a case of impersonation.
The introduction of the new UNEB Act and increased resources demonstrates a commitment to combating exam malpractice. Some believe that stricter penalties and effective enforcement can eventually eliminate this issue. However, others argue for alternative assessment methods to reduce pressure on students and deter malpractice.
As the UCE exams continue, candidates will tackle Biology (Practical) and Commerce papers on Day 4. A total of 364,421 candidates are registered for the exams, which run until November 17.
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