The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is contemplating a hike in registration fees for national examinations due to rising costs. This proposal is among the issues being discussed by the UNEB board and its committees. The current fees have become inadequate as the cost of examination materials and other requirements continues to increase.
According to Dan Odongo, UNEB Executive Director and secretary to the board, the current fees are insufficient to meet the board's operational needs. He cited the need to increase remuneration for people involved in managing examinations, such as scouts and invigilators. Odongo noted that UNEB relies heavily on government funding, but a small adjustment in candidate fees could provide more room to meet operational needs.
Under the current fee structure, Primary Seven candidates pay 34,000 shillings, while Senior Four candidates pay 134,000 shillings and Senior Six candidates pay 186,000 shillings. The proposed adjustment would have different implications for families depending on the level of education and whether a learner is enrolled in a government-supported program or sits as a private candidate.
UNEB last revised its registration rates in 2017, nearly a decade ago. The board adjusted fees for different national examinations through a circular issued on April 4, 2017. Odongo stated that the costs of running examinations have changed considerably since then, while the registration rates have remained largely unchanged.
The prospect of higher examination fees has raised concern among some parents, who said an increase could add to the financial pressure on households and create another barrier for learners from low-income families. Alex Kamya, a parent in Nabweru South, Wakiso District, expressed concerns that some parents already find the current secondary school examination fees high.
Meanwhile, UNEB is moving to close revenue leakages after discovering cases where some headteachers in government schools allegedly register private candidates as government-sponsored candidates. Odongo revealed that the board will investigate and impose penalties, including fines and surcharges, on headteachers found guilty of this practice.
The proposed fee review and crackdown on revenue leakages come as UNEB continues to administer the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) to hundreds of thousands of candidates each year. The board is also exploring ways to improve revenue collection and prevent losses.
Key points
- UNEB considers hiking exam fees due to rising costs
- Current fees have become inadequate to meet operational needs
- Proposed fee review and crackdown on revenue leakages aim to improve UNEB's financial sustainability
