"Will They Go Back To S1 Or Repeat S4." Ministry Of Education Left Puzzled After 6974 Students Fail

The release of the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results, which has just concluded, has left 6,974 students in limbo.

As per the recently adopted lower secondary curriculum, the students did not meet the requirements for the UCE certificate and therefore became disqualified to join Senior Five or even study at tertiary levels.

Formerly, candidates who failed in UCE could repeat Senior Four in an attempt to obtain higher grades. This is because the new curriculum structure, which involves continuous assessment starting from Senior One, makes it cumbersome for such a practice.

It is impossible to repeat Senior Four without continuous assessment marks for the previous years.

Stakeholders in education have called for alarm in regard to such students lacking definitive guidelines. The Uganda National Teachers' Union's Secretary-General Filbert Baguma raised the quandary, querying what the correct approach for such learners is when other classes still go on.

The Ministry has noted the issue but has as yet provided no definitive solution.

All other options are under consideration to provide these students inclusion. Vocational and technical training institutes (VTIs) are offering skilling courses without any UCE certificate.

The students can be inducted into the courses assessed by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) that impart manual skills and likely career opportunities.

As the first term progresses, the necessity for laying down a clear line of action for such students increases.

The Ministry of Education, together with other relevant authorities responsible for education, will expedite to develop policies such that those affected have viable options where they can continue with studies or get vocational training.