Despite the initial optimism surrounding the new law, which was introduced with much fanfare, it has not proven to be as effective as hoped in addressing the issue of exam malpractice. For instance, from last year’s examination cycle, 21 cases of malpractice were filed in courts across the country, yet most of these cases remain unresolved.
The
Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has raised alarm over the sluggish judicial proceedings concerning exam malpractice, which they
believe hampers the effective enforcement of the newly amended laws aimed at eradicating
this issue in schools.
Dan
Odongo, UNEB's Executive Director, stressed the importance of timely
resolution of cases of malpractice, stating that many cases from the 2022 and
2023 national examination cycles remain unresolved.
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Cue out...no impact.”//
Odongo
made the remarks while talking to journalists at the sidelines of a seminar
aimed at preparing district, municipal, and city school inspectors for the
upcoming national examinations, which will be starting in October.
Examination
malpractice continues to hinder the education system. When UNEB enacted new
laws with strict provisions, including hefty fines and long prison sentences
for those convicted, they hoped these measures would help curb the issue,
especially if offenders were held accountable.
Despite
the initial optimism surrounding the new law, which was introduced with much
fanfare, it has not proven to be as effective as hoped in addressing the issue
of exam malpractice. For instance, from last year’s examination cycle, 21 cases
of malpractice were filed in courts across the country, yet most of these cases
remain unresolved.
Odongo
noted that the board is currently working to engage the judiciary to expedite the handling of education malpractice cases, aiming to create a more
significant impact.
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Over
the years, UNEB has consistently raised concerns about delayed judicial processes
and, at one point, advocated for the establishment of a special court to
expedite the trial of these cases. Addressing
the issue last year, Prof. Celestino Obua, the UNEB Chairperson, emphasized the
need for a dedicated court to centralize all malpractice cases.
He added that
such a court would not only facilitate quicker resolutions and more efficient
handling of these matters but also reduce the resources—both human and
financial—required to manage them. Meanwhile,
Frances Atima, a UNEB board member and the Director of Education Standards at
the Ministry of Education, acknowledged that while there are still challenges
in expediting case resolutions, the board has made progress in addressing the
issue by plugging leakages.
She noted that the main problem persists in the
distribution of examinations from storage centers to schools, as well as what
occurs at the school level. “The
best way to tackle this issue is through prevention,” Atima stated. “We are
focused on ensuring that individuals of integrity are involved in the
distribution and invigilation of examinations. If this is managed effectively,
we can significantly mitigate the problem.”
Odongo
confirmed that many of the examination leakages reported last year occurred
during distribution. He explained that some individuals entrusted with the exam
papers, particularly those handling the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), have
been cutting open parcels, photographing the papers, and leaking them to
schools.
In
2022, Mbayo Mamba, the headteacher of Namasuba Parents Primary School in Wakiso
District, faced legal trouble for allegedly attempting to illegally open a
sealed PLE parcel. He was apprehended in Butambala District while conspiring
with Chris Rutayisire, an examination distributor, and Michael Mulindwa, the
driver of the van hired by UNEB to transport transcripts to four schools.
Last
year, several headteachers and teachers from districts like Kasanda and Kikuube
were also arrested for sharing what appeared to be the national Primary Leaving
Examination (PLE) via social media. Odongo
pointed out that they have discovered that examinations have often been
entrusted to irresponsible individuals, including boda boda riders, for distribution,
which has led to significant leakages.
To
address this issue, the UNEB executive director stated that moving forward,
only senior local government officials, such as department heads and principal
officers, will be authorized to handle the distribution of examinations. He
emphasized that individuals in these higher positions can be held more
accountable than the junior staff or random individuals who have been employed
in recent years.
