While the majority of examination distribution to storage facilities across the country proceeded smoothly, there were some initial challenges this morning.
For example, at the Nabweru Police storage facility, two incidents raised concerns as one parcel appeared to be damaged prior to distribution, sparking apprehension among the distributors.
Additionally, at the same storage facility, a school received an examination parcel with fewer than the expected 71 papers, which was attributed to poor packaging.
While some papers were missing, it was later determined that the facility had received a parcel intended for the Kiwende facility.
This parcel was handed over to the Municipal Education Officer for immediate transport to its correct destination, as it contained more papers than those missing at the station.
In the meantime, despite storage facilities opening early for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) to allow distributors ample time to deliver the exams to each center before 9:00 a.m, a situation in Matugga caused panic as At 8:00 a.m., the storage facility had not yet been opened.
To ensure the security and integrity of the PLE examination, 139 District Monitors, 11,758 scouts, 10,664 Chief invigilators, and 30,059 invigilators have been deployed.
This year, a total of 749,347 candidates registered for the PLE examination across 14,442 examination centers, marking an increase from the previous year.
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and law enforcement agencies are actively monitoring social media platforms being used or created to share what are commonly referred to as national examination papers as the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) commences.
According to Jennifer Kalule, the UNEB spokesperson, the Board has received reports of social media platforms being used by teachers, headteachers, school directors, and others to share examination materials.
She further revealed that these groups often operate under code names such as “Evening Greetings,” “Boosting Candidates’ Performance,” “Last Nail in the Coffin,” “2023; The Real Bull,” and several others.
Kalule cautioned teachers and the public to refrain from participating in these online platforms or sharing any suspicious content, as it could lead to heavy penalties, including fines of up to Shs 20 million or a five-year jail term.
The abuse of social media for examination malpractice is a growing concern within the education system, not limited to Uganda but a global issue.
