UNEB scraps Physics, Chemistry and Biology practical exams

The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has scrapped the O-Level practical examinations for Physics, Chemistry and Biology with effect from the 2018 academic year.

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According to a circular, the decision to scrap the examinations took place during a meeting where members present reviewed the rationale for setting the alternative practical papers for the core science subjects.

It was decided that the reasons that led to their introduction were no longer valid.

Dan. N.Odongo, executive secretary UNEB said that they decided to scrap the papers because it is no longer cost-effective since fewer and fewer people have been registering for the alternative papers.

Odongo said that the papers to be scrapped were introduced as alternative papers to cater for examination centres that were struggling with making the necessary changes after science subjects were made compulsory in all schools.

Dr. Kedrace Turyagenda, the head of the Directorate of Education Standards, said that not all schools in the country are equipped to carry out practical examination.

"Not all schools have laboratories, especially the private ones," she said.

According to Dr. Turyagenda, through World Bank projects, several Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools have been equipped with laboratories and will not be affected by the scraped ping of the examinations.

Dr. Turyagenda said the move will push private schools towards the right direction.

"UNEB's move will help force private schools adhere to education standards and set up functional laboratories instead of borrowing from neighbouring schools all the time," she said.

The examinations were started in 2006 to cater for schools that did not have laboratories attracted an estimated 5,000 students out of the 326,149 that were registered to sit for the 2017 examinations.