A proposal to investigate the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) grading system has been rejected by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who ruled that such matters should be addressed by the Ministry of Education rather than Parliament.
The request was raised by Wakiso District Woman MP, Ethel Naluyima, who expressed concerns over the unusual performance trends in the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). Naluyima noted that learners from urban schools in Kampala and Wakiso, who traditionally performed well, had been outscored by students from rural areas, raising questions about UNEB’s marking and grading criteria.
“There have been numerous concerns from education stakeholders regarding the grading system and how results were processed. This year’s PLE results showed inconsistencies that need to be scrutinized to ensure fairness and transparency in the examination process,” she argued.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu backed her concerns, questioning how some students in rural schools, many of whom were sitting exams at the Primary Six level, managed to achieve higher scores than their counterparts in urban areas who had completed Primary Seven. He also criticized UNEB for refusing to allow dissatisfied parents and schools to review students’ marked scripts despite their willingness to pay for verification.
Despite these concerns, Tayebwa ruled out parliamentary involvement, stating, “This is a matter for the Ministry of Education. If there are legitimate issues with the grading system, they are the ones responsible for addressing them.”
Jonam County MP Emmanuel Ongiertho opposed the motion for an inquiry, arguing that UNEB had already explained the changes in grading criteria. He urged parents with grievances to follow UNEB’s official complaint procedures instead of demanding parliamentary intervention.
UNEB recently reported that 10.7% of candidates scored Division One, while the majority were placed in Division Two and Three. The exam body maintains that its assessment processes remain fair and transparent.