COMMENT | NANTEZA SARAH KYOBE | Four days ago, the Uganda Nationwide Examinations Board (UNEB) released the 2025 Uganda Certificates of Education (UCE) examination results, marking its 2d liberate below the competency-essentially essentially based curriculum.
These results no longer only sign a shift in academic analysis but additionally replicate the present grading system launched with the up-to-the-minute curriculum. On the different hand, the present grading system inherent within the competency-essentially essentially based curriculum (CBC) continues to motive confusion amongst fogeys and the public, rising uncertainty about the finest technique to interpret these results effectively.
I adore the present grading results within the CBC framework. This current grading system enables every little one to enact a definite stage of opinion, despite the truth that the depth and extent of that opinion would possibly per chance per chance vary amongst folks.
It contrasts sharply with the outdated-long-established aggregate system, which often labels college students as screw ups, suggesting they understood nothing. It’s sturdy to pronounce that honest a little one would possibly per chance per chance exhaust four years discovering out sturdy from senior one to senior four—and reach out with out shopping any files or abilities. This observe highlights a famous error within the outdated overview mannequin.
The earlier UCE grading system, which veteran a 1-9 scale, has been replaced by a brand current competency-essentially essentially based grading system that makes exhaust of letters (A–E) and emphasizes talent utility over numeric scores. As fraction of this commerce, the outdated D1–F9 grading breakdown and divisions (1–4) own been entirely eradicated.
Students are now evaluated per five distinct achievement ranges: A (Distinctive), B (Mighty), C (Superior), D (Total), and E (Elementary). This transition marks a famous shift in how academic success is considered, involving away from transactional analysis in direction of a more detailed opinion of a pupil’s abilities.
In this context, fogeys must observe the importance of their younger folks’s grades. Fair a little one who receives an A demonstrates distinctive competence, showcasing a creative and innovative utility of their abilities in right-existence scenarios. In distinction, a get dangle of of B signifies a excessive stage of competency, which method the pupil has successfully applied the guidelines and skills obtained to navigate right-world scenarios effectively.
Equally, a grade of C shows that the little one has a suitable stage of competence, suggesting they’ve a popular opinion but unexcited deserve to reduction in some areas. The which method of a grade D is also considerable; it signifies the minimum stage of competency required, which method the pupil met the elemental requirements but can also need extra aid to toughen their abilities. Likewise, a grade of E implies that the pupil is below the elemental competency stage and can own reveal applying their files and skills in right-world scenarios.
With ABCD grades, college students build abilities that match the present grading philosophy, including every creative and innovative exhaust of files and a solid skill to handle right-world challenges. In this current system, all grades are labeled as Distinctive, Mighty, Superior, or Total, offering a more comprehensive observe of pupil performance.
Furthermore, fogeys must always know that the veteran scheme of “Divisions” has been removed. UNEB now makes exhaust of particular “Result” indicators to level to a pupil’s certification attach, as follows: Result 1 method the pupil has sterling for the UCE certificate (this requires no longer no longer up to at least one Grade D in any arena).
Result 2 implies that the pupil didn’t qualify for a certificate, per chance as a consequence of of lacking compulsory matters or no longer submitting mission work.
Finally, Result 3 shows that the pupil bought a Grade E (Elementary) across all matters, which doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for a certificate.
To be definite CBC continuity, the A-stage curriculum also wants to be revised. The current system, the attach college students be taught clever abilities at O-stage only to swap aid to a more theoretical method at A-stage, is adore washing and inserting within the soil.
The growth made in earlier years is undermined by a system that doesn’t effectively assemble on earlier discovering out. By revamping the A-stage curriculum to align with the abilities emphasized within the CBC, Uganda can provide a more unified academic trip for its college students, making ready them effectively for elevated training and the personnel beyond.
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Nanteza Sarah Kyobe works with Uganda Media Centre
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