Why Traditional Schools Excel at Pre-University Entry Exams
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COMMENT NEW VISION, Friday, June 5, 2015 13 YOUR VIEW What do you think of these issues in the week? RELIGIOUS DEVOTION Katherine Nabuzale, Ugandan in Germany Uganda is a country with diverse religious denominations. It is captivating to observe how committed and dedicated Ugandans are to their faith but unfortunately Education minister Jessica Alupo receiving examination results from UNEB secretary Matthew Bukenya not the same enthusiasm is accorded to what affects their livelihoods. Why is it so? The Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa Story on www.newvision.co.ug Why traditional schools excel EUROPEAN RECOVERY Thomas Fricke and Xavier Timbeau, Project Syndicate, 2015 at pre-university entry exams In the coming months, European leaders will confront two major challenges. First, they will need to fi nd a way to turn a fragile upturn in ollowing the release of entry exams? While the paradox can be economic conditions into a lasting Makerere University Bachelor explained away using the argument of recovery. Then, they will need of Laws pre-entry exam results Uganda’s education system that promotes to push for real progress in the and its attendant implications, rote learning over holistic education that transition to a low-carbon future, the Ministry of Health centres on the head, heart and hands, ahead of the UN Climate Change and Makerere University there seems to be much more than meets Conference in Paris at the end of FMedical School have opened debate on the eye. the year. the possibility of medical students doing Instead of the Ministry of Health and Full story on www.newvision.co.ug pre-university entry exams, thereby casting medical school authorities making doubt on UNEB as the sine-qua-non of arguments for and against pre-entry university admissions in Uganda. exams, there is a need to make tracer The startling revelation from Makerere studies that track the performance of University law pre-entry exam results admitted students using UNEB results and is that only 19% of the 2,082 senior six make informed recommendations. LAND RIGHTS students achieved the pre-requisite 50% The startling The studies would even be in the THREATS pass mark. While St. Mary’s Kitende had best interests of private schools since James Muhindo, lawyer 110 senior six students scoring maximum revelation from conspiracy theories about possible If the promulgators of the 20 points, none of these students qualifi ed cheating abound in the mass media Millennium Development Goals among the 44 students admitted for Makerere University and public talk. When I had just joined had had an idea of what life would 2014 Bachelor of Laws on government Ntare School as deputy headteacher in actually be by 2015, they would sponsorship! 1995, I remember students hounding the have done one of two things; either The lead students in pre-entry exams law pre-entry exam then headteacher, Stephen Kamuhanda, set a century-long target or put were Samantha Ahebwa and Patricia who had been posted there from King’s much less effort into their work. Lamwaka from the traditional Gayaza College Budo to leak examinations to Their 2015 target has arrived High School. Pre-entry qualifi cation was results is that only them since Budo used to excel in national at a time when the livelihood of dominated by Gayaza High School with examinations! Students later proved that mankind is at a record low four students, King’s College Budo four, 19% of the 2,082 the conspiracy theories were not true and See story on www.newvision.co.ug Makerere College School four, St. Mary’s that it was all about commitment and hard Write to College Kisubi three, Ntare School three work. guestwriter@ and Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga three. Senior Six students It is possible that private school students newvision.co.ug Interestingly, while St. Mary’s Kitende work very hard to achieve sterling We take 600 had 110 students scoring maximum achieved the 50% results and there is no foul play but until words only. 20 points in 2014 UNEB exam results, scientifi c tracer studies are carried out, the Also send a Ntare School had come second with 24 conspiracy theories will abound and more high resolution students, King’s College Budo third with passmark cries for pre-entry exams, a phenomenon full-length IS SUNDAY 18 students. pioneered at Uganda Christian University picture. A closer analysis of the total number of by Ass. Prof. George Kasozi, who is the SABBATH? students from traditional schools vis-a-vis Mary’s Kitende topped the medical school current dean of the Faculty of Law at Charles Okecha, teacher private schools shows that 93% of students admissions based on UNEB results with a Bishop Stuart University, will become the Find more of The New Vision of Monday, June from traditional schools compared with phenomenal 24 students! norm and not the exception thus rendering your views 1, 2015, contained an article, 7% from private schools qualifi ed to join In second position was Ntare School UNEB results impotent and screaming online on “Christians do not keep Sunday the Bachelor of Laws on government with six students, King’s College Budo news headlines of soaring private schools www.newvision. holy, as a day of rest.” Whereas the scholarship. with four and Mbarara High School with hollow. co.ug writer‘s intention was to elucidate on It is perhaps against this background three. Overall medical school admissions importance of the day to Christians, that Ministry of Health and Makerere based on UNEB results were comparable The writer, a former secondary What do you think? he instead opened a pandora’s Medical School offi cials were debating between private schools at 57% and school deputy headteacher and dean TYPE VIEWS<space> box, which is that a process once the possibility of admissions to Makerere traditional schools at 43%. of the Faculty of Education at UCU, Comment, Ask, suggest TXT begun generates many complicated Medical School being based on pre-entry The crux of the matter is why should is now the Chair Provincial COU Send to US problems. See story on www.newvision.co.ug exams. According to the 2015 Makerere students from private schools excel in Board of Education and Chancellor 8338 University Government admission lists, St. UNEB examinations yet struggle in pre- Bishop Stuart University What is your say? [email protected].