Uganda Exam Board Warns of Schools Cheating for Special Needs Students.
KAMPALA, Uganda - The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) says some schools are cheating by registering regular students as having special needs. The schools want to get extra exam time for their best students.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo announced this on Thursday when releasing the results of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). He said dishonest schools are exploiting the "Others" category, which is meant for students with health issues like asthma or sickle cell anemia.
Due to their conditions, these students can get 45 more minutes on tests. But they do not need any special assistance beyond that. The cheating schools are putting their top pupils in this category just to give them more time.
"This is unethical and unfair," Odongo stated. "It undermines the credibility and fairness of the exams."
In 2024, UNEB registered 3,328 special needs students, up 25.5% from 2,652 in 2023. This group included the blind, deaf, physically disabled, and those with dyslexia. Girls made up 47.9% and boys were 52.1%.
Of these, 48 students did not take the PLE test. Most who did (51.5%) earned Division 2 scores, above the national average of 50.5%.
Odongo said the rising number of special needs candidates each year shows that UNEB and the education ministry have raised awareness about inclusive education. But he cautioned that schools must not abuse this system for unfair advantage.
The false registration of regular students as having special needs is a serious issue for Uganda's school system. It risks harming truly vulnerable students who need fair accommodations. UNEB aims to prevent this cheating to ensure trust and integrity in national exams.
The board plans to investigate the implicated schools and impose penalties for misconduct. It urges all educators to act ethically and support an equitable testing process for every child.
KAMPALA, Uganda - The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) says some schools are cheating by registering regular students as having special needs. The schools want to get extra exam time for their best students.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo announced this on Thursday when releasing the results of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). He said dishonest schools are exploiting the "Others" category, which is meant for students with health issues like asthma or sickle cell anemia.
Due to their conditions, these students can get 45 more minutes on tests. But they do not need any special assistance beyond that. The cheating schools are putting their top pupils in this category just to give them more time.
"This is unethical and unfair," Odongo stated. "It undermines the credibility and fairness of the exams."
In 2024, UNEB registered 3,328 special needs students, up 25.5% from 2,652 in 2023. This group included the blind, deaf, physically disabled, and those with dyslexia. Girls made up 47.9% and boys were 52.1%.
Of these, 48 students did not take the PLE test. Most who did (51.5%) earned Division 2 scores, above the national average of 50.5%.
Odongo said the rising number of special needs candidates each year shows that UNEB and the education ministry have raised awareness about inclusive education. But he cautioned that schools must not abuse this system for unfair advantage.
The false registration of regular students as having special needs is a serious issue for Uganda's school system. It risks harming truly vulnerable students who need fair accommodations. UNEB aims to prevent this cheating to ensure trust and integrity in national exams.
The board plans to investigate the implicated schools and impose penalties for misconduct. It urges all educators to act ethically and support an equitable testing process for every child.
