UNEB reports 1.3 million candidates registered for 2024 examinations

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has announced the conclusion of the normal registration period for the 2024 examination cycle, with a total of 1,302,650 candidates registered.

These registrations cover the four main sets of national examinations: the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) for both the new and old curriculum, and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).

This year’s registration marks an increase of 78,279 candidates compared to the previous year’s total of 1,224,371, reflecting a 6.0% rise in the number of candidates. Currently, 793,489 candidates are registered for PLE, 369,373 for UCE, and 139,788 for UACE. These figures exclude candidates from newly accredited examination centres, who have until June 21 for normal registration.

Jennifer Kalule, Principal Public Relations Officer for UNEB, stated that as the country transitions from the old to the new curriculum, the Board is conducting a one-off Transitional Examination (UCE-TE) based on the old curriculum.

“The examination will be conducted alongside the others and provides an opportunity for anyone who qualifies and would like to be assessed under the old curriculum. Normal registration for the transitional examination ends on June 21, 2024,” she said.

The transitional examination provides an opportunity for several categories of candidates, including those who sat for UCE in 2023 or earlier and wish to improve their grades, those who registered but did not sit for UCE, those who failed to register for UCE in 2023, and adult candidates over 20 years old who did not sit for PLE.

Candidates eligible for the transitional examination must register before the June 21 deadline.

Registration can be completed at any school with UNEB examination centres or accredited examination halls nationwide. The government will cover the registration fees for learners qualifying as Universal Secondary Education (USE) candidates who register at government-aided schools under the USE program.

Kalule urged all eligible candidates to take advantage of the registration period to ensure they are enrolled for the upcoming examinations.

“The government shall pay the registration fees of learners who qualify as USE candidates and have registered with any of the government-aided schools under Universal Secondary Education (USE),” she said.