Mr. Daniel Odongo, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), has revealed plans to hire 60,000 individuals nationwide to monitor the upcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
KAMPALA, UGANDA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Mr. Daniel Odongo, the Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), has announced a plan to hire 60,000 individuals across the country to monitor the upcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
He made this announcement during a meeting with district, municipality, and city school inspectors responsible for coordinating PLE administration.
According to Mr. Odongo, PLE presents a significant challenge for the board due to the large number of candidates. He stated, “While PLE is conducted over two days, it feels like a month for us due to the vast number of participants.”
PLE is organized and coordinated by district inspectors of schools in collaboration with Uneb. More than 200 district inspectors attended the meeting at Uneb offices in Kyambogo, Kampala, and were authorized to recruit chief invigilators, invigilators, scouts, and personnel responsible for distributing examination papers to examination centers.
Mr. Odongo explained, “These individuals have a significant role to play because we need to employ at least 60,000 people to handle various tasks during the exams. However, some local governments do not have the funds to facilitate them, hence we have to come in.”
Inspectors were also provided with materials for PLE, including timetables for all pupils, lists of examination centers and primary schools nationwide, and examination distribution routes.
PLE is the second set of examinations following the Uganda Certificate of Education, scheduled for next month on October 16. The Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education will be the final set of examinations held in November.
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State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, representing the Minister of Education, emphasized the importance of preventing malpractice during the upcoming examinations. He stated, “We cannot continue to lament the same issue. Uneb reports that some districts appear before the security committee every year due to malpractice. This is unacceptable and should result in sanctions.”
Mr. Ogwang urged district inspectors to remain vigilant, especially during the distribution phase and at the school level where exam leaks tend to occur. He also encouraged them to convey the same messages to the individuals they will be recruiting, emphasizing that unprofessional conduct undermines the country’s values and must be stopped.
Ms. Kellen Ayebazibwe, the chairperson of the Uganda National Inspectors Schools Association (UNISA), raised concerns about impassable roads in remote areas, particularly during the rainy season. She explained, “We lack vehicles to distribute PLE materials to different examination centres, especially during the rainy season. Some distributors resort to using motorcycles, which poses risks.”
Inspectors also expressed frustration about bureaucratic delays in fund processing at local governments. Mr. Odongo tasked the inspectors with identifying the challenges they are likely to face during the rainy season so that Uneb can provide the necessary financial support.
