By.Katongole Arnold
The academic year in Uganda according to the Ministry of Education and Sports comes to an end after three terms of studies, first, second and third term respectively. Two terms of the three have been completed and today Monday 18 September2023,according to the Ministry of Education and Sports calendar kick starts third term of the academic year 2023, which is the last term of this academic year.
Last week, parents and students flooded shopping and trade centers to get hold of scholastic and personal requirements a head of a term that requires a lot of sobriety from the students ahead of their promotional exams internally and national. Parents in mammoth numbers have been seen in the long bank cues, trying to access tellers to pay students’ fees despite the presence of new technological advancement that aid paying fees like easy pay, mobile money and flexipay using student generated codes from schools, some parents prefer banks ad they are skeptical to the new advancement of paying fees.
- MEDICAL STUDENTS UNSATISFIED WITH THE THEIR RESULTS
BY SHIBA NAKAKANDE The Uganda Allied Health Examination Board (UAHEB), a body responsible for assessing health professionals in Uganda since 2006, released the results of the 2024 students. On Wednesday, 12th March 2025, results of 6,742 students were released, and there was a decline in candidature from the November December 2024 examinations. From 7376 candidates in 2023 to 6742 in 2024. Not only was there a decline in candidature but also in performance, where 6016 candidates passed in 2023 out of the 7376 registered to 4821 passing out of 6742 candidates assessed in 2024. Various students on the X application addressed their dissatisfaction with the released examinations, claiming that the body is failing to have students reassess, specifically their logbooks, with extra fees. “Imagine marking logbooks for clinical students, only for entire institutions to record a 100% failure rate in logbook assessment. how? The majority of students got below 20, which is beyond alarming; to make matters worse, even dead-year students and those who had left the program who never handed in logbooks somehow got marks for what they never submitted. If this isn’t the highest level of incompetence, then I don’t know.” Posted by Dr. Kizza Blair, Executive Director of Usawa Health. Following the release of their results, on 17th March 2025, students from Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health (DCM), Diploma in Pharmacy (PHA), and Certificate in Pharmacy (CPH) of intake 2020 and intake 2021 petitioned to UAHEB and the Minister of Education and Sports expressing their dissatisfaction with the results of the logbook assessment that were about discrepancies, inconsistencies, and unfairness surrounding the process. The logbook serves as a record of the hospital or healthy facility where a student has been on training as they approach the completion of their course. The Minister of Higher Education, Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, urged students to observe professional ethics in promoting health during the release of the results. Students at institutions like Mulago Paramedical PHA and Certificate Pharmacy, Mayanja Memorial pursuing DCM, Kyabazinga SACO, IPA Maya DCM, and Medicare Mengo DCM have all candidates getting retakes. There is also an issue with the time at which professionals receive their transcripts, which limits their application for higher studies due to delay. According to the The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the ministry is developing a new curriculum for higher diploma programs to be rolled out soon .
- MAKERERE UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE OVER 200 SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH MASTERCARD FOUNDATION
BY RAPHEAL LUBANGAKENE 190 undergraduate and 11 master’s scholarships are up for grabs to eligible students joining the university’s main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme. Makerere University is set to continue its commitment to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds with the launch of the second cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year. This initiative aims to empower talented African youth, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue higher education and develop their leadership skills, ultimately contributing to the continent’s growth and development. To qualify, applicants must have applied for admission to Makerere University for the 2025/2026 academic year and have completed their advanced secondary education in an African country, hold a second-class diploma from a recognized institution, or have passed the university’s mature age entry examination. Additional eligibility requirements include demonstrated leadership potential or community service experience, being 28 years old or younger at application (32 for refugees or persons with disabilities), and not holding any other scholarships, including government-sponsored positions. The Master Card Education program envisions 30 million young people across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, with a focus on young women, refugees displaced persons, and people with disabilities. Interested persons can now
apply through the university’s online application portal at zero cost not later than Friday, June 6th, 2025. - EDUCATION MINISTRY SETS STRICT OPERATIONAL POLICY FOR HEALTH TRAINERS
BY RAPHEAL LUBANGAKENE During the 38th series of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (UNMEB) results held in Kampala last week, the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, revealed the ministry’s intention of tightening licensing conditions for health training institutions in operation and those seeking to start up. In a speech read by the state minister for higher education, Dr. John Muyingo, Museveni said the directive aims to uphold the standards of nursing and midwifery education. Mrs. Museveni noted that based on the UNMEB statistics, there is an ever-increasing demand and access to nursing and midwifery education, but bemoaned institutions that admit more students than they can accommodate. “This won’t be tolerated henceforth. This practice affects training quality and, ultimately, impacts patient care. “The nursing and midwifery profession is unique; one mistake can cost a life. We will not allow institutions to enroll students beyond approved numbers,” explains Ms Museveni. She also ordered the ministry’s technical team to monitor the number of student admissions in each institution and ensure licenses are only issued or renewed for those with adequate practicum facilities. To manage student practices better, the education ministry plans to work with the health ministry. The commissioner for Health Education and Training, Dr. Safina Kisu Musene, explained that an institution’s capacity depends on factors such as a minimum of four tutors per program, affiliations with referral hospitals, and well-equipped skills and computer laboratories. The 2024 final examinations were conducted from December 2 to 3, 2024,
in 129 accredited centers. UNMEB previously conducted exams in June and December, but following the enactment of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act in February 2025, UNMEB was dissolved.
The new Uganda Health Professionals Assessment Board (UHPAB) now oversees assessments for nursing, midwifery, and allied health students after the cessation of the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board.
- UACE 2024: A 28% INCREASE IN CANDIDATURE
There is an increase in the number of students offering science subjects which is a contribution to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics trend that the Education System is taking. A total of 141,996 candidates registered for the 2024 UACE examination compared to 110,566 candidates in 2023; an increase of 31,4430 candidates (28.4%). This is a very significant increase in candidature compared to previous years. Of these, 61,957 (43.6%) were females, and 80,039 (56.4%) were males. Males also accounted for 53.1% (16,695) of the increased candidature. It is possible that as a result of the change in admission criteria for primary school teachers, those candidates who would have gone for Grade Three teacher training after the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) chose to pursue the UACE pathway. Centers
for the UACE examination increased by 154 (7-3%6) from 2,101 in 2023 to 2,255 in 2024.
According to the Chairperson of UNEB, Prof. Celestino Obua, UNEB has planned a series of engagements with critical stakeholders to explain the grading system. This is after the public had queries about the grading system for the lower secondary curriculum, UCE 2024.
The National Curriculum Development Centre NCDC is working with UNEB on the assessment framework to be used for the A-level Curriculum since the 2025 senior five students are the pioneer students of the competency-based curriculum.
The state Minister of Education and sports, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, appreciated UNEB for their diligent efforts as they delivered the third end-of-the-cycle examinations of nearly 1.3 learners is released on time.
“Evidence points to the fact that learners get interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education because it is often engaging and project-based, allowing them to tackle real-world problems, fostering critical thinking, and developing skills valuable for future careers and innovations.
In learner performance in sciences and mathematics, best practices in STEM education point us to the fact that the way sciences and mathematics are taught needs to change. This change starts with the teacher changing his or her attitude toward STEM and how it ought to be taught. In the recently released 2024 UCE examination results, you also saw how the performance in science subjects was generally good.” Said Mrs. Museveni.
She also recognizes the improvement in filling in PUJAB forms online, especially during this era of technology.
To the learner’s advancement in higher education at universities and higher institutions of learning, 48 private and 10 public universities are ready to enroll students who match their grades according to desired courses.
- STUDENTS SHINE AT THE FRENCH SCHOOLS’ CONTEST 2025
By Shiba Nakakande. March is recognized as a Francophonie month with a series of events in memorization of the French language across the world. On 7th March 2025, the Njogera Francaise students’ inter-school competitions were held at the Alliance Française Kampala, where French-speaking students and teachers were rewarded with laptops, tablets, and trips to France. This year 22 schools participated, with 16 secondary schools and six primary schools, and an increase in the number of students as well, from 780 in 2024 to 830 students. Mukisa Precious emerged as the overall winner from Delf Junior, a French language exam for teenagers from Seeta High School, Agha Khan Primary School, Galaxy International School, Ambrosoli International School, Kisubi Seminary School, Hillside Nursery and Primary School, and St. Mary’s College Kisubi. This year’s competitions for secondary schools were in line with the competency-based lower secondary curriculum, where students are tasked with putting their creativity to the test when responding to questions. They were given scenario-based questions responding to real-world problems attempted in French. According to Agatha Tumwine, the President of the Association of Teachers of French in Uganda, they are targeting to ensure that French is taught in all Ugandan schools because of the opportunities associated with
it.
She added the importance of activities that bring students together, encouraging them to learn the language, and also called upon sponsors to recognize teachers to endeavor for these students to learn French.
“Where learners come together to practice their French through speaking and various activities, including performing arts, especially through poetry, through drama activities, music, and dance, which also helps to for personal and human development, that builds other skills and competencies for learners,” she explained.
More events in celebration of the Francophonie month are still going on entertainment in schools till 11th March, organized by APFO, Job and Study Fair on 15th March at the International French School Kampala, Francophonie Festival on March 22 at the International French School Kampala, showcasing Francophone food, culture, and fashion, and a Francophonie Concert on 27th March summing it all up at Alliance Française Kampala, culminating the celebrations.
Schools started receiving students especially those in boarding sections yesterday, Sunday 17 September, 2023. The reporting process is expected to take a fortnight for all students and schools to harmonize the academic schedule throughout the entire country.
Like all third terms, this term is a determinant and yardstick for academic appraisal for the entire academic year at all levels from primary and secondary schools and it comes with expectations that vary regarding the level your at but all aiming to achieve academic appraisal for school goers, pupils in primary and students in secondary.
EXPECTATIONS
For all continuing students, including semi candidates schools will set exams for these students including beginning of term, mid term and end of year. End of year examinations is the most important among all these , where students are credited upon performance to the next class. Third term is a trap that tests for comprehension of students to the content covered during the entire academic year , because the exams cover all content taught in a certain class to get promoted to the next class.
For all candidates, this is the term to get to their names to the records of the national examinations board, Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB), at the level where they a at.
For P.7 candidates, they are expected to be going through different revision classes to remind them of the present content and forgotten content covered in lower classes , where teachers seek to pass on new answering techniques to their students before sitting for their Primary Leaving Examinations that start on 7 to 9 November 2023.
For S.4 Candidates O’ Level , they are expected to go thorough different facilitations and resource drills in different subjects to bring them up to speed in theory and practical lessons, techniques and approaches. The candidates at this level will sit for their examinations ,Uganda Certificate of Education which will commence from Friday 13 October 2023 which will be briefing and examinations shall start on 16 October 2023 and end on 9 November 22023.
Lastly,S.6 Candidates, these sit for the highest examinations at secondary level. Commonly called A level candidates, they are classified into Arts and science students and all have different subject combinations. Teachers to these students are likely to complete the syllabus and get involved into drills of facilitations from different examiners to prep for final Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examinations which will kick off with candidates briefing on Friday 10 November 2023 to 1 December 2023.
Important Dates for stakeholders to note in third term,
Students visitation days, these are dates where parents go to schools to visit their children and pass on encouraging words and also check on what their children have been doing at school.
Candidates prayer days, this is a special day for all candidates as they get blessed and handed to the hands of God as they get to face their final exams.
Breakoffs, This is also important for parents to know when the students shall break off , this helps in easy planning and also keep a vigilante of those days on their schedules
