The recent reconsideration of the 2024 appropriation bill has resulted in funding gaps for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), leaving many crucial activities related to national examinations unfunded.
During the budget process, the Parliamentary committee on education discovered that the examination body had significant unfunded priorities. In response, the committee recommended transferring funds from other budget allocations to support UNEB’s needs, a recommendation that was implemented.
This reallocation was part of a larger 750 billion shillings’ which were moved from several votes to address critical areas identified by MPs. However, this decision has since been opposed by the President, who subsequently returned the appropriation bill for reconsideration.
According to the Chairperson of the Budget Committee at Parliament, Patrick Isiagi, UNEB has been allocated 6.5 billion shillings to support O’ level transitional examinations allowing learners under the old curriculum a chance to sit for UCE examinations. An additional 6.5 billion was earmarked to aid in assessing the new lower secondary curriculum.
Currently, UNEB is in the process of registering candidates under both the old and new curricula, with 377,932 candidates registered for the examinations so far.
However, due to the recent reconsideration of the bill, the board may face challenges in funding its operations, as the funds initially allocated to them have been reverted to their original budget votes.
In addition to the funds allocated for assessments, parliamentarians allocated an additional 8.5 billion shillings specifically for accommodation, payment, and meals for examiners and checkers during the examination marking process.
Available information indicates that other examination bodies such as Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), Uganda Allied Health Examination Board (UAHEB), and Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board (UNMEB) were also impacted by the budget shifts.
Other funds that were shifted to its original vote include 2.5 billion shillings that had been provided for grant-aiding primary schools, 16.5 billion for grant-aiding secondary schools, and 10 billion shillings for the construction of 13 seed schools.
Following a contentious debate, Parliament reconsidered the bill on Tuesday, restoring funds to their initial allocations. With the examination process already underway, there is considerable confusion, especially given that funding for national examinations remains uncertain.
Schools and parents with candidates are anxious about the management of the examination process. “Someone should explain to us what the reconsideration of these funds means,” expressed Alex Kamoga, a concerned parent, noted in an interview on Thursday.
Several Authorities at the Ministry of Education declined to comment on the specifics of the matter. However, Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, state minister for higher education acknowledged not being informed about which budget lines were affected by Tuesday’s decision.
Muyingo further mentioned that the ministry would soon discuss the matter, and if the funding for national examinations is affected, they would prioritize finding a solution, as it is an urgent matter.
Jennifer Kalule, the UNEB spokesperson, noted that examination body has already expressed worry over the matter as the development affects all their activities relating to the four national assessments already in the pipeline. She added that UNEB top management is currently (as of Friday afternoon) in the meeting sat to discuss the matter.
While national examinations are held annually, UNEB’s activities often remain underfunded initially, requiring supplementary requests from the Ministry as the examination period approaches.
Opposition MPs, such as the Shadow Finance Minister Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, have repeatedly criticized the government for including non-essential items in the budget while neglecting critical ones during the budgeting process, seemingly unaware of their importance.
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