Uganda’s first-ever batch of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learners have their UCE results, and the new grading system is shaking things up.
With no more “Divisions,” students are now graded from A to E, showing how well they apply knowledge in real life. Art & Design, Agriculture, and History topped the charts with high numbers of exceptional performers, while Sciences especially Physics and Chemistry gave many students a tough time.
A total of 359,417 candidates registered for the exams, with 357,120 actually sitting. Girls slightly outnumbered boys, with 182,284 (50.7%) compared to 177,133 (49.3%). The government’s USE program accounted for 38.1% of candidates.
Meanwhile, 743 Special Needs candidates and 39 prison inmates also sat for the exams, with many qualifying for their UCE certificates, a big win for inclusive education.
Dan Odongo , the UNEB Executive Director stated that Physics and Chemistry saw a significant number of students struggling, especially in interpreting practical scenarios. UNEB reports that many candidates failed to relate the experiments to real-life applications, exposing major gaps in practical teaching.
He said English Language also had its share of problems, students struggled with vocabulary, summarizing, and paraphrasing. On the bright side, female candidates dominated English, Art & Design, and CRE, while boys led in Mathematics and Sciences.
According to Odongo, for the first time, Project Work was a big deal, carrying a standalone grade on students’ certificates. This component tested learners’ creativity and problem-solving skills, and UNEB says it helped assess real competencies beyond just written exams.
The CBC assessment came with major hurdles many schools lacked the IT infrastructure needed to submit Continuous Assessment (CA) scores on time. Science labs were another headache, especially in rural schools. And let’s not forget the examiners’ strikes over low pay, which almost derailed the marking process.
Despite the hiccups, UNEB insists the CBC assessment has been a success. But with some schools still resisting the new curriculum, the education sector will have to adapt fast to keep up.
With the new grading system in place, UNEB has scrapped ranking candidates by Divisions. Instead, students need at least a D in one subject to qualify for a UCE certificate. Those who failed to meet the requirements will receive “Result 2” or “Result 3” on their transcripts.
