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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) government correctly concluded that Uganda’s economic fortunes and scarcity of jobs could be reversed with a skilled population and therefore, it has been advocating for skills development through support for human capital development in research and development.
The NRM’s policy is to attract learners to Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) and to retrain artisans already in the job market.
All government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) should be guided to strictly implement this line, one of which is the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), which is the national examination board established by an Act of the Uganda Parliament to streamline, regulate, coordinate and conduct reliable national examinations and award certificates and diplomas in business, technical and vocational/professional education or training in Uganda.
The country has seen a significant increase in the number of BTVET learners and graduates assessed by UBTEB since 2012, something that NRM bosses should be proud of.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Since 2013, UBTEB has been evaluating technical diplomas and certificates, business diplomas and certificates, and physical and biological diplomas and certificate programmes.
According to Sam Patrick Ogwang, Chief Examination Officer (Delivery and Awards) of UBTEB, a total of 9,198 candidates were registered with UBTEB in 2012. Of these, 4,641 candidates obtained full examination qualifications and entered the workforce, while 4,370 candidates had to retake the exams.
In 2013, this number grew to 24,373. Of these, 11,756 obtained full qualifications and joined the workforce, while 10,282 were advised to retake the exam.
In 2014, a total of 25,790 candidates registered, of whom 19,956 completed their studies and joined the workforce, and 2,968 repeated their studies.
In 2015, UBTEB registered a total of 32,603 candidates, of whom 23,621 passed the exam and started working, while 6,583 were advised to retake some subjects.
In 2016, a total of 32,873 candidates registered, of which 23,288 candidates were fully qualified for the exam, while 6,916 candidates had to retake the exam.
In 2017, the number of registered candidates increased to 36,910, of which 24,672 passed the exam and 8,416 had to retake some subjects.
In 2018, a total of 34,988 candidates were registered with the UBTEB, of which 24,088 candidates were fully qualified, while 8,742 candidates had to retake the exam.
In 2019, a total of 33,448 candidates registered. Of these, 22,426 passed the exam and started working, while 6,725 were advised to retake the exam.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only 26,529 candidates registered in December 2020, of which 17,388 passed the exam and joined society or work, while 5,960 had to retake the exam.
Okuang said the board did not conduct any examinations in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said this led to a surge in the number of candidates to 76,559 in 2020 after the pandemic ended.
Of these, 54,881 obtained full qualifications and entered the workforce, while 15,160 had to retake their studies.
Last year, UBTEB registered 39,374 candidates, of whom 27,991 passed the exam and 3,809 had to retake it.
Overall, in the past 10 years (2013 to 2023), the total number of candidates registered with UBTEB is 372,645.
Overall, a total of 254,707 (76%) learners have achieved full competence and entered the world of work over the past decade, while 79,941 (24%) learners have not completed their studies after being advised to retake them.
Ogwang said the number of applicants for TVET is increasing. He said this could be attributed in part to the changes in the admissions model by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
“Decentralised admissions are practised in all regions of Uganda. Admissions are given priority to applicants’ interest in a particular course and related subjects studied at a lower level are considered,” he explained, a view shared by Onesmus Oyesigye, Executive Secretary of UBTEB.
Oyesigye also attributed the increase in volume to the introduction of marketable modular assessments.
“Due to the productive nature of most TVET careers, students now complete their courses when they are ready for work, which also attracts other students to TVET careers,” Oyesigye added.
For Jalia Nasaza, manager of UBTEB Vocational Colleges, Ugandans have now come to understand and appreciate the BTVET programme, which is the reason for its increasing numbers.
She said parents now prefer their children to start with certificate courses and then upgrade.
“Even first-year students prefer BTVET. People in general are now beginning to understand and appreciate the benefits of BTVET. It has made inroads,” she said.
According to Herbert Wanda, Chief Planning, Budget and Investment Officer of UBTEB, 64% of BTVET graduates are in productive employment. He said that the results of the tracking study on the job market of BTVET graduates showed that they performed well in the fields of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, hydraulic engineering and electrical engineering.
He said that in order to attract more students, the government should fully implement a one-year compulsory TVET training immediately after the A’Level examinations before students can enroll for further education.
“We pray and hope that this can be achieved in NDPIV. Imagine a student going to college with skills like barbering, shoemaking, plumbing, wiring, tailoring, etc.”
In order to attract more people to BTVET, the government proposes to relax the admission requirements so that those who are willing to study, regardless of previous qualifications, are eligible for admission.
Wanda said UBTEB is in the process of formulating guidelines to allow students without any formal education to join BTVET and is also developing a qualifications framework.
“We need to recognise prior learning. We need to have tiers of qualifications, like level 1, level 2, level 3… and so on. We are working on that,” he explained.
Wanda also recommended conducting follow-up studies regularly; reviewing the training and employment policies as required by the Ministry of Gender and Social Development; decentralizing the training and evaluation system to flexibly coordinate the TVET system; and strengthening the TVET Act and Policy 2019 in terms of implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and addressing curriculum issues.
He also called for universal access to TVET training programmes for evaluation, more funding for TVET training and evaluation, and the involvement of UBTEB officials in the formulation of the NRM manifesto.
He also fears that if funding is not forthcoming, the UBTEB assessment centre currently under construction may come to a standstill as the first phase is due to end in January 2025.
UBTEB overall student evaluation for the past 10 years
(Completion Year: November-December 2012 to November-December 2023)
| Exam Year | Registered Candidates | Gain all abilities (passed) | Not yet qualified (retake) |
| 2012 | 15,052 | 4,641 | 4,370 |
| 2013 | 24,373 | 11,756 | 10,282 |
| 2014 | 25,790 | 19,956 | 2,968 |
| 2015 | 32,603 | 23,621 | 6,583 |
| 2016 | 32,873 | 23,288 | 6,916 |
| 2017 | 36,910 | 24,671 | 8,416 |
| 2018 | 34,988 | 24,088 | 8,752 |
| 2019 | 33,448 | 22,426 | 6,725 |
| 2010 | 26,529 | 17,388 | 5,960 |
| 2021 | COVID-19 Pause | COVID-19 Pause | COVID-19 Pause |
| 2022 | 76,559 | 54,881 | 15,160 |
| 2023 | 39,374 | 27,991 | 3,809 |
| total | 372,645 | 254,707 | 79,941 |
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