UPC Condemns Denial of Exams to S.6 Candidates in Iganga

The opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has condemned the conduct of denying S.6 candidates from sitting their final A’ level examinations.

On Monday when A’ level national examinations began countrywide, 15 candidates from Iganga Top care secondary school were denied examinations by school administrators over failure to clear school fees.

Speaking to reporters at party headquarters in Kampala, UPC head of media and communications Faizo Muzeyi condemned the development and termed it as worrying.

“This is a worrying trend and bad experience to candidates, parents and Government,” he said.

After the matter attracted public attention, the examinations body UNEB intervened and the affected candidates were cleared to write their subsequent papers.

A statement issued by UNEB principal public relations officer Jennifer Kalule Musamba on Tuesday read, “UNEB’s position on this matter has been that if a school is able to tolerate the defaulting candidates to stay in school until the date of examinations, then such candidates should be allowed to write their examinations”

Kalule further noted that the UNEB has always advised that school fees and other outstanding school dues must be collected before examinations begin.

“We therefore think that the action taken by head teacher of Iganga Top care secondary school was inappropriate and goes against guidelines by UNEB” Kalule said in a statement

However, she noted that it is not a responsibility of UNEB to get directly involved in the administrative issues of schools even if such schools are UNEB examination centres.

Muzeyi applauded UNEB for its immediate intervention that later saw 15 candidates who were earlier denied, sitting their examinations.

He called on the board to set special examinations of missed papers for affected candidates.