During the plenary sitting, Members of Parliament, led by Shadow Minister for Education Ssewungu Gonzaga, demanded an explanation from the Ministry of Education and Sports regarding the changes in the assessment and grading system.
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, introduced a competence-based curriculum for lower secondary schools in 2020, necessitating significant reforms in the assessment process.
The previous content-based grading system, which used a nine-point stanine scale (Distinctions, Credits, Pass, and Fail), has been replaced with letter grades: A, B, C, D, and E.
The new assessment model incorporates Continuous Assessment (CA) conducted at the school level, contributing 20% of a learner’s final score, while the End-of-Cycle (EoC) examinations administered by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) account for 80%.
Additionally, students are required to undertake Project Work, assessed separately, to evaluate their ability to solve real-world problems creatively.
Minister Ogwang explained that the Ministry had released results for two categories of examinations: the transitional examination and the first cohort assessed under the new competence-based curriculum.
"To qualify for a UCE certificate under the new system, candidates must Sit for at least eight subjects and attain a minimum of Grade D in any subject (Result 1)," stated the minister
"Candidates who sat for fewer than eight subjects, failed to sit for compulsory subjects, or lacked Continuous Assessment or Project Work scores are ineligible for certification (Result 2)," he added.
According to Peter Ogwang, those who scored only Es across all subjects will receive a transcript instead of a certificate (Result 3) while Candidates who registered but did not sit for all or most examinations will also receive a transcript instead of a certificate (Result 4).
Minister Ogwang emphasised that for the 2024 academic year, all candidates had Continuous Assessment scores as submitted by their respective schools.
The UNEB will maintain its computerised selection system for Senior Five admissions, ensuring that placement into A-Level schools follows the established criteria.
The competence-based curriculum aims to produce students with enhanced communication skills, research abilities, and problem-solving competencies rather than mere rote memorisation. The focus is on practical proficiency and application of knowledge in real-life situations.
Despite the benefits, the transition has sparked confusion among students, parents, and educators. MPs raised concerns about the clarity of the grading system and its impact on learners' futures, urging the Ministry to intensify sensitisation efforts.
Minister Ogwang reassured Parliament that continuous training and support would be provided to educators and stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.