Government has tabled the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), 2020 amendment bill that seeks to address gaps in the current act. The bill was tabled by The Primary Education State Minister, Rosemary Seninde.
The bill seeks to define the functions and powers of UNEB with regard to preparation, organisation and administration of National examinations to improve standards and quality of national examinations.
The bill also seeks to address new and emerging challenges affecting the administration and management of national examinations.The bill proposes tough penalties for anyone found guilty of exam malpractice.
It provides that a person who before or during an examination has in their possession any examination paper or material commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Shillings 40 million or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both.
The same penalty will apply to misappropriation of examination registration fees and a person who assists or causes a candidate to obtain an examination paper or material.
Where the convicted person is a registered teacher, he or she shall be disciplined with relevant laws of the teaching profession.
The bill seeks to repeal and replace the Uganda National Examinations Board Act. Cap 137, which was enacted in 1983.
The new bill states that since 1983 Uganda education system has undergo a number of reforms ranging from legal, institution and policy framework coupled with social economic changes which has affected the operation of the examinations board and it’s implementation act.
It also highlight emerging issues due to the changing education and technological revolution that require review and additional provision to address them.
The bill seeks to create reforms relating to the administration and management of primary and secondary national examinations and any other examinations the Board may consider necessary.
The Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has referred the Bill to the Education and Sports Committee for scrutiny.