87% of students pass May-June 2024 UBTEB exams

At  least 87% of students who sat for the Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board (UBTEB) exams passed successfully.

During the release of the exams, Onesmus Oyesigye, the UBTEB Executive Secretary, announced that 1,468 out of 1,694 students who sat for the exams achieved full competence.

"Out of the 1,694 candidates that sat for examinations, 1,468 (87%) acquired full competence and successfully completed their courses. They will be joining the world of work. These candidates are also eligible for further training both horizontally and vertically as recommended by the TVET policy 2019.," Oyesigye said.

The results show that, generally, male students performed slightly better than their female counterparts.

"The competence acquisition rate across genders is 79% for female candidates and 95% for males at the diploma level. There was however no significant difference in gender performance at the certificate level, with females passing at 84% and male candidates at 85%."

However, the female candidate had a higher number of 880 candidates in this particular examination series representing 52% compared to 814 candidates(48%) that were the male counterparts.

According to the results, 427 candidates sat for Technical Diploma program, 376 Candidates (88%) passed the exams. 38(09%) of candidates scored Class I (Distinction), 301(70%) scored Class II (Credit) and 37(9%) got a pass.

For Business Diploma program, a total of 256 candidates sat exams, 86(34%) scored Class I (Distinction), 140(55%) got Class II (Credit) and 4(1.6%) got pass grade.

Out of the 902 candidates who sat for the Business Certificate examinations, 303 (32%) achieved a distinction, 361 (40%) received a credit, and 102 (11%) obtained a pass grade.

Among the 93 candidates who completed the Diploma program in Physics and Biology Science, 21 (31%) earned a Class I, and 57 (61%) achieved a Class II.

Additionally, 16 candidates obtained a certificate in Physics and Biology Science, with no candidates receiving a distinction. Of these, 9 candidates (56%) received a credit.

Onesmus Oyesigye noted that they encountered a number of challenges during the general conduct of examination and processing results.

"The conduct of on-the- spot practical assessments which are critical in competency based education and training is costly to both the board and training institutions. Hands-on training and is very key for skills acquisition in line with the demands in the world of work and this calls for increased financial support."

He added that the assessment of special needs candidates on the convention curriculum(not designed fir special need trainees) is a great challenge especially candidates of journalism and other media amd engineering rated programmes.

He highlighted the need to increase the budget line of the assessment and examination of the board to effectively implement modular and practical skills assessment as guided by TVET policy 2019 and TVET reforms.

"Funding us needed to build the capacity of assessors so that assessment re-aligned to the needs of the world of work and advanced technology."

Janet Museveni, the Minister for Education and Sports, who was represented by State Minister for Primary Education Joyce Kaducu, commended UBTEB and other stakeholders for their efforts in increasing the number of female candidates registered in TVET programs through various initiatives.

"Thank you for adhering to the government's call for gender equity in TVET access, but u still believe we can do even better. Government Will continue to open up avenues for accessing TVET which is equitable for both females and males." She said.

She noted that the ministry is re-assessing the suitability and the quality of the facilities in the established training institutions adding that some institutions have responded and many shying away due to questionable standards.

Mrs gave  TVET training institutions six months to comply with the registration and licensing requirements set by the Ministry.

She noted that institutions failing to adhere to these requirements will have their assessment center numbers withdrawn by UBTEB.

"I instruct the permanent secretary and technical team inspecting the facilities in TVET training institutions to ensure that all of them adhere to the registration and licencing requirements established by the ministry within six months from now. Any training institutions that doesn't comply with this guidance should have the assessment centre number withdrawn by UBTEB" she said.

She hailed the board for supporting the 84 trainees with special needs by providing them with support personnel, and other mechanisms like additional time during examination to harness their potential.

She pledged to address emerging issues in the training of trainees with special needs.