Solomon Muyita, Andrew Bagala & Stephen Kabindi
16 October 2007
SENIOR four examinations got underway countrywide yesterday with the announcement of a 10-day break in November.
Candidates doing the Advanced Level examinations will be interrupted between November 16 and 26, the period within which Uganda will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, education authorities said yesterday. The Uganda National Examinations Board and the Ministry of Education confirmed yesterday that exams would be suspended during that period because there is no clear idea of what to expect.
But State Minister for Higher Education Gabriel Opio said schools do not have to send students home. "It's mainly because of Kampala. We suspect there might be a lot of traffic jam or security operations that would make it very difficult (for one) to move in the city," the minister said.
"We are not closing any school because of Chogm as some people have been saying. We have been communicating this position to over 1,000 head teachers, so some got the message wrongly."
The PS, Ministry of Education, Mr Francis Lubanga said the "candidates should be happy about the Chogm break" because it will give them enough time to revise for the last exams.
Exams started in 2,066 secondary schools with two Geography papers. Uneb publicist Eva Konde said yesterday the exercise to examine 194,911 candidates started peacefully. The O' Level theory and practical exams will run up to November 16.
This will be followed by the Primary Leaving Examinations on November 5 and 6, whereas the A' Level exams will start on November 9 and end on December 7.
Hiccups were recorded in Masindi District where about 50 candidates are said to have missed yesterday's exams, according to the district Uneb supervisor, Dr David Turyagumanawe.
Mr Opio said the Ministry, Uneb and the Police have put in place special provisions for the flooded north-eastern Uganda. He said Unicef had provided tents for alternative classrooms and bio-toilets for students from over 25 schools that were affected by the floods.
He said police helicopters were on standby to airlift examination papers and invigilators where need arises in the region. It is the first time that the police have taken over the role of scouting, examination monitoring and the delivery of exams to all possible locations.
In Kampala invigilators prevented some students from entering examination rooms claiming that they were dressed in the wrong uniform. The students turned rowdy when the invigilators insisted on sending them back home.
The students had registered for Uneb examinations at Old Kampala Secondary School, but had not attended the school. "We were called in and we managed to solve the problem immediately," Mr Kasingye the police publicist said. "The students have been allowed to sit the exams."
He said they also encountered problems in the delivery of examination papers to Kalangala District. Mr Kasingye said by Sunday examination papers had not reached Kalangala but they hired a boat and delivered the papers.
Meanwhile, Daily Monitor has learnt that police chief Kale Kayihura, has ordered all district police commanders to present reports on examinations on a 24-hour basis.
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