Candidates in the 2020 UCE Examinations performed poorly in Chemistry, Biology and Geography subjects according to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
Mr. Dan Odongo, the Board’s Executive Secretary Dan Odongo, revealed said while releasing the 2020 UCE Results results on Friday July 30.
In last year’s exams, Odongo said despite an improvement in the overall performance in a number of subjects, there is still a challenge in overall pass levels for science subjects.
He remarked that more and more students still find difficulty in handling the apparatus during practical tests as well as marking and recording observations among other challenges.
“Candidates showed weaknesses in the handling of apparatus during the practical tests,” part of his speech reads in part
” The weaknesses were also shown in making and recording observations and drawing conclusions from those observations; tabulation of experimental results and interpretation of the results to meet the demands of the question.”
Odongo noted that candidates showed poor mathematical skills required in calculations, inability to write the correct symbols of elements, formulae of compounds and equations, among others.
“As a result, students do not develop the necessary skills. This could explain why most malpractice cases are in science practical papers.
Odongo also said UCE results of 1,292 candidates have been withheld by UNEB over pending investigations on examination malpratice.
“This year, there is a reduction in the cases of examination malpractice compared to last year and previous years,” he said.
The nature of malpractice, Odongo said has mainly been external assistance (assistance given by third parties to the candidates), collusion where candidates are sharing the answers, impersonation, and script substitution among others.
“So, Mama [Janet Museveni], this year, in accordance with Section 5(2)(B) of UNEB Act 2021, 1,292 results will be withheld. This compares to 1,825 in 2019. This is why we are saying, there has been a reduction,” said Odongo.
“As usual, the affected candidates will be given a fair hearing and a final decision made,” he added.
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