749,347 Registered for PLE and 110,569 for UACE 2023, UNEB Confirms

COMMISSIONING OF 2023 PLE AND UACE EXAMINATIONS

The 2023 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) Examination commence this week with the briefing of PLE candidates today, aftemoon November 7th, 2023, and the briefing of UACE candidates on Friday November 10th, 2023, respectively. The PLE candidates will write their papers on the 8th and 9th of November, while the UACE candidates will write their papers from November 13th December 1, 2023. Like the UCE examination, the PLE and UACE – examinations are being conducted under the same theme; ‘Integrity and security in the management of examinations is a joint responsibility’ This theme underscores the importance the Board attaches to integrity and security of the assessment process and the certificates issued thereof.

Overview of the Primary Leaving Examination

A total of 749,347 candidates registered for the examination this year from 14,442 examination Centers, as compared to 14,153 centers last year. 52% (391,558) of the total candidature are females while 48% (357,789) are males. Upper Prison School Luzira registered 79 candidates; 13 females and 66 mates. 79% of examination centers are Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools, with a total of 501,619 candidates. The Non-UPE centers are 21%, hosting 247, 728 candidates. In total, 70% of the candidates are funded under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Program, while 30% are privately sponsored.

2,580 candidates were registered to have Special Needs Education (SNE) requirements, as compared to 2,316 candidates last year. These SNE learners will be given the necessary support. UNEB will avail braille question papers and answer sheets for the blind, large print question papers for those with low vision, sign language interpreters for the deaf, and transcribers for learners with dyslexia and those with severe physical impairments (reading and writing challenges). The SNE candidates will be allowed 45 extra minutes for each paper. A total of 769 SNE personnel have been deployed to provide the required support.

Scouts and invigilators are encouraged to be vigilant and look out for the sensitive needs of the SNE candidates and support them appropriately. Support personnel sent by UNEB should also be accorded the necessary cooperation to enable them render the required support to the SNE candidates.

The field conduct of the PLE will be handled by 139 District Monitors, 11, 758 scouts,

10,664 Chief invigilators, and 30,059 invigilators. A number of security personnel have also been deployed across the country to support the exercise and ensure the security of the examination, as well as the security of the filed officers and the candidates.

Overview of the UACE Examination

110,569110,569 candidates registered for the examination, as compared to 97,889 last year. This indicates a percentage increase of 11.4% (12,680) in candidature at this level. 22.3% of the candidate are Non-UPOLET, while 77.7% are privately sponsored. In terms of gender, 43% (47,227) of the candidates are females, while 57% (631,342) are males. 34 of the candidates are inmates from Upper Prison School Luzira, of whom 4 are females, while 30 are males. The candidates will write their examinations from 2,103 examination centers.

Caution against involvement in Examination malpractice

The Board strongly warns all persons contemplating involvement in any form of examination malpractice that they will be dealt with in accordance with the UNEB Act 2021. The public is warned that there are persons who have set up social media platforms and have been collecting money purportedly to access and supply PLE question papers. Security agencies have arrested some of these, while others are on the run. There may be other desperate persons who might try to circulate what they purport to be PLE papers. Any person found doing so will be dealt with in accordance with Section 25 (1) (2) and (4) of the UNEB Act 2021, which provides for a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment upon conviction.

Invigilators and Scouts who negligently allow malpractice to take place under their watch will be dealt with under Section 26 (1) (g), which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of five years upon conviction. So they are cautioned.

Members of the public with information that may lead to persons involved in suspected malpractice should call any of our toll free Nos: 0800- 111-427; 0800-211-077. The

informer will be protected under the Boards ‘Whistle Blower’s policy.

The Board requests Local government and political leaders in all the examination districts to take keen interest in the conduct of the examinations and do all in their powers to support a smooth conduct of the examinations in their districts. Chief Administrative officers, especially, are requested to avail the logistics necessary for the smooth and safe distribution of the PLE papers to the sitting centres, and return of scripts; and toe ensure that the personnel participating in this exercise are people who can be held accountable.

Caution against defrauding government by registering private students as UPE/ UPOLET students

We have information on a number of schools that have registered private candidates under the Universal education programme. They have, however, collected examination fees from these candidates and have not remitted the fees to UNEB. This is defrauding government. Such schools are advised to remit the fees collected to UNEB, failure of which will attract severe penalties.

Caution to Head teachers/School Directors against disrupting examination conduct.

The Board advises school head teachers and directors to settle the issues of school fees well ahead of the examination dates. It is a criminal offence, under section 30 (1) of the UNEB Act 2021, to disrupt an examination to remove candidates on the basis of fees balances. The Board also encourages parents to fulfil their fees obligations in good time, or make an arrangement with the schools on how to pay. The Board will, once again, offer to assist schools, by blocking access to examination results of those candidates who have fees balances, but have been allowed to sit the examination.

Briefing of candidates:

Finally, we implore heads of Centers to personally brief the candidates. Head teachers should, among other things, inform the candidates of the circumstances that may lead to disqualification or cancellation of their entire results. Such situations include but are not limited to; smuggling of unauthorized material into the examination room; copying from one another or collusion, external assistance given by teachers, invigilators or any other person; prior knowledge of examination questions; impersonation; improper behavior like disobeying, threatening or attacking examination officials, as well as late coming. Candidates are expected to be at the Examination Centers, at least 30 minutes before the start of the examination. In the event that they are late, they should not go beyond 15.