The Chief of Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD), Mr. Freddie Semukono has challenged students to read and avoid retakes in order not to be affected by the new curriculum implemented at the lower secondary school level. He
explained that by the time the new curriculum will be introduced in Universities, the teaching and assessing students will change. Coursework will carry 60% and final examinations 40%. and students will not be allowed to accumulate more than 5 retakes and when one exceeds it, it will be a stay put. A number of universities and institutions of higher learning in Uganda including Makerere University Business School have reviewed their academic programmes to include an element of skills acquisition after the Ministry of Education and Sports approved a more ‘competence- based’ curriculum February 2020.
The new curriculum aims at meeting the learners’ needs especially in regard to skills training and enhancement. Hence addressing the need to equip young people with relevant skills and competences they are ready for the job market after they complete school. Mr. Semukono was addressing the course leaders on October 16, 2024 in their meeting with Quality Assurance Directorate which took place at MUBS Main Campus, Nakawa.
The meeting enabled course leaders to become more informed about current events and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage their courses,and foster the academic and personal development of fellow students. He took the Course leaders through the key areas of Quality Assurance and explained its major roles is ensuring the quality and standards of the examinations, monitoring of the teaching, ensuring proper hygiene in and around the lecture rooms among others.
Mr. Semukono said MUBS has a unique model, examinations are being managed by QAD not Registrar’s Office as compared to other Universities. This is intended to make sure that there is an independent unit handling examination. He appreciated the course leaders for the services they render to fellow students. “You are the link between students and the School Management. You are the first contact students have in-case of any inquiry or any problem, therefore you play a key role in the School”, he said.
Mr. Semukono also explained the central marking system in MUBS where staff are not allowed to take examination scripts outside the gazetted marking room which has led to consistency in marking hence reducing on the complaints of missing scripts. After making, there is checking through the papers marked to ensure all numbers attempted by the students were marked, transferred and accurate before releasing results.
He urged the course leaders to identify the challenges faced by the students and report them to management for solutions and warned them against summarizing the timetable for the students to avoid communicating incorrect and misleading information. He advised them to be disciplined, read and work hard to avoid examination malpractices and form discussion groups to enable them share knowledge, experience, learning and getting skills.
The Guild Minister for Education Hon. Sarah Aloyo also warned fellow students against examination malpractice
saying it’s a very crucial matter, and appealed to the course leaders to communicate its consequences to the students
because it leads to dismissal from the university if one is found guilty of the offence. She also advised course leaders to read their books and be model leaders.