Uganda's First CBC A-Level Exams Begin

Schools report adequate preparation for the pioneering Senior Six candidates despite financial hurdles in implementing the new competency-based curriculum.

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Uganda's first cohort of A-Level students to complete their studies under the Competency-Based Curriculum has begun its national examinations.
School administrators cite high costs for practical materials and parent reluctance as key challenges in implementing the new system.

Uganda’s first A-Level students to finish school under the new Competency-Based Curriculum have started their national exams. According to AllAfrica, these Senior Six learners are pioneers who have followed the learner-centred framework since Senior One, making them the first group to sit both the Uganda Certificate of Education and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education under the revised system.

At Mbarara Army Boarding Secondary School, 199 candidates were briefed before starting their assessments. AllAfrica reported that 139 of these students chose science subjects, while 60 selected arts. The school’s Deputy Headteacher for Academics, Yunus Kyabalongo, stated that the institution had made significant efforts to ready candidates for the tests, even with limited funds. He noted that the school hired outside experts to boost practical learning and give students the critical thinking skills the curriculum demands.

Kyabalongo added that internal and external sessions led by Uganda National Examinations Board scholars helped candidates understand exam techniques and marking standards. He described the school as being well-prepared for the tests, pointing out the large number of science students. However, school leaders noted that hiring outside experts and buying modern teaching tools remain expensive tasks.

The Assistant Director of Studies, Beatrice Atwijukire, pointed out that running the new curriculum needs major financial outlays, especially for practical resources. She noted that the needed textbooks are hard to find and that some parents have been hesitant to pay for extra school needs. Atwijukire suggested that the higher count of science students might reflect government policy favoring science subjects.

AllAfrica reported that some schools have limited media access during exam time, following reports that the Uganda National Examinations Board dislikes media presence at certain test centers. As candidates across the country take their papers, results will show how well the new curriculum and its competency-based assessment method work at the advanced level.

Uganda's First CBC A-Level Cohort Begins Exams Amid Cost Concerns

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