A shift in Uganda's education system has seen the first cohort of students who sat for the UCE examinations in 2024 under the new competency based curriculum receive their results amidst mixed reactions. With an impressive performance for most of the students, the results sparked both excitement and questions about the grading system. Tonight we break down how these results were computed, what they mean for the students and what next for those who did not meet the required standards.

On the 11th February 2025, the Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni released UCE results comprising of the unique nature of the newly competence based curriculum. However, the results came with many queries about the grading system and selection approach. In an exclusive interview with the exam body’s PRO Jennifer Kalule at the UNEB offices in Kyambogo, she gave a better understanding of the new grading system.

She explained what the new curriculum entails and asserted that it is meant to bring out the strengths of individual students citing their capacities in different areas.

She went on to explain the project assessment framework that the schools have been using alongside the computation of scores that the technical team used while grading for the UCE results.

On the other hand despite the success of the majority of students who excelled across the country, there was a number that did not manage to obtain the required grades and were encouraged to redo their examinations.

As for those who did the transitional examinations and did not manage to excel, she states that there are no plans catered for them yet since it was a one off examination. MS. Kalule also appealed to schools to give learners who averagely performed opportunity to be able to develop their various competencies.