Uneb, address exam malpractices

Since the release of Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) 2018 results, social media and public talk has been awash with stories about extreme examination malpractice. This vice is increasingly becoming part of Uganda’s education system. The PLE results have brought to question the credibility of Uganda National Examination Board (Uneb). This calls for immediate redress if the country is to trust national examinations.
It is sad that despite a lot of information that is discrediting the institution, Uneb has not explained this matter satisfactorily to the public. Today, social media is a vibrant communication channel that any institution worth a name should never ignore. Education being a process of teaching and learning is evaluated through examinations at the end of the learning period. It is such a critical factor in the career paths and lives of the learners.

Examination malpractice in Uganda has been premised on many factors, including commercialisation of the education system. This has led to cutthroat competition between schools, fear of failure, the craze for certificates, desire for parents to have their children in the best schools, pressure on students to pursue courses which they have no aptitude, pressure on teachers and school administrations to produce results and dubious administrators running the education institutions and systems in the country.

Examination malpractice at whatever level and time has dire consequences on national development. It is sad that some people are calling for the scrapping of national examinations as they have lost trust in it. This is a national institution that should not be allowed to sink into the drain at all costs. In a society where examination malpractice is rampant, its impact is seen in the type of human resource the system produces. When fraud in national examinations is unchecked, the entire education system becomes distorted.
A country that is notorious for examination malpractices loses international credibility. The implication is that documents and certificates emanating from the country’s higher institution of learning is treated with a lot of suspicion.

The fight against corruption cannot be realised if examination malpractice continues to be happen. As future leaders who go through an education system that is characterised by academic fraud and dishonesty, this could be exposed in their adult life.
Examination malpractices with its disadvantages is affecting all facets of the society negatively. The potential of this nation will be difficult to realise socially, economically and technologically until the individuals, government and all other stakeholders in the education sector collaborate to eradicate this evil.
This is the time when Uneb should be at its best to protect and amplify the cherished values of the institution before its credibility is washed down.
Percy Mulamba,
Kampala
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When Uneb released PLE results last week, there were jubilations by excelling schools and pupils across the country. Schools, both in rural and urban areas, work towards excelling in national exams measured in terms of the number of first grades they attain.
However, for a school to attain success, there is need to make a lot of sacrifices and commitment by all the parties involved, including the students, teachers and parents. All of them have to work hand-in-hand and support one another in all aspects of preparing for and writing final examinations.

For instance, a teacher should endeavour to support slow learners while parents should provide their children with all the school requirements to enable them work towards excellence. The students should concentrate on their studies. They should avoid diversions that might prevent them from scooping the final prize.
By doing this among other positive and constructive means, all the parties involved in academics will celebrate and rejoice in their successes at the release of the final results by Uneb.
Richard Kotaki
Kampala