The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is considering increasing registration fees for candidates sitting national examinations, citing rising costs of administering examinations.
Sources told URN that the proposal is among issues being discussed by the UNEB board and its committees this week as the examinations body assesses whether the current fees are sufficient to meet the cost of examination materials, logistics and personnel.
UNEB executive director and secretary to the board Dan Odongo confirmed the discussions in an interview with our reporter on Tuesday, saying the current fees have become increasingly inadequate as the cost of running examinations rises.
“There are several things that we want to effect, including increasing remuneration of people involved in management of the examinations, like scouts and invigilators, but we could not as we are limited on revenue,” Odongo said.
He said UNEB relies heavily on government funding to supplement revenue from examination registration, but argued that a small and manageable increase in candidate fees could give the board additional room to meet some of its operational costs.
“Currently, we rely a lot on releases from government, yet if a small, manageable amount is added to what is being paid, it can improve on the matter,” he said.
Under the current fee structure, Primary Seven candidates pay Shs 34,000, while Senior Four candidates pay Shs 134,000 and Senior Six candidates Shs 186,000.
For private candidates, the registration fees are paid by parents or guardians. The government, through releases to UNEB, meets the registration costs for candidates under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme.
An increase would therefore have different implications for families depending on the level of education and whether a learner is registered under a government-supported programme or as a private candidate.
UNEB last revised its registration fees in 2017, when it adjusted charges for the different national examinations through a circular issued on April 4 of that year.
Odongo said the cost of administering examinations has changed considerably since then, while the registration rates have largely remained unchanged.
“A lot has changed since 2017. The rates of materials used have increased amid other changes, but the rates have remained the same, affecting the board,” he said.
He said UNEB has discussed a possible fee increase internally for several years but is now giving the proposal more serious consideration.
“We have had internal discussions on this matter for years, but this time round we are giving it serious consideration,” Odongo said.
He did not disclose the amount of the proposed increase or when the board is expected to make a final decision.
The prospect of higher examination fees has, however, raised concern among some parents who fear an increase could add to household financial pressures and make it harder for some learners to sit the examinations.
Alex Kamya, a parent in Nabweru South, Wakiso district, said some families already consider the current secondary school examination fees high.
“Already some parents feel that the amount is a bit high, more so at secondary level, and increasing it might lock out some learners from the examination,” Kamya said.
Alice Ssembatya, a parent from Nansana East, questioned whether government could increase its financial support to UNEB instead of transferring additional costs to families.
“Education is a public service. Government should shoulder the registration of all candidates, whether in private or public schools,” she said.
The debate comes amid wider challenges in financing national examinations. UNEB requires funding for examination materials, transportation, security, storage, supervision, invigilation, marking and remuneration of personnel involved in the examination process.
Odongo said the board is also exploring ways of improving revenue collection and closing leakages before any increase in registration fees is implemented.
He revealed that UNEB has discovered cases in which some headteachers in government schools allegedly register private candidates as government-sponsored candidates, denying the board fees that should have been paid by their parents or guardians.
“We are going to investigate through our means, and once a head teacher is found doing this, first he will have to remit the examination fees of the candidates, but also be fined by paying a surcharge,” Odongo said.
He said UNEB would withhold results from examination centres involved in the practice until the outstanding fees and surcharges are paid.
Odongo added that the board could pursue criminal charges against officials involved, arguing that deliberately misrepresenting candidates to evade examination fees amounts to fraud under the UNEB Act and other relevant laws.