The Church of Uganda, through its Directorate of Education Services, has officially launched the distribution of mock examinations to Church-founded primary and secondary schools across the country.
The initiative aims to boost learners’ academic performance, build competence, and familiarize students with the revised national curriculum and its new assessment format.
The flag-off ceremony, organized by the Provincial Examination Agency, took place on Monday afternoon at the Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe. It was officiated by Canon John Tereraho, the Provincial Head of Laity and an experienced educationist.
The event was attended by several key Church education leaders, including Acting Provincial Secretary Mr Balaam Muheebwa, Director of Education Services Rev. Canon Dr. Paul Kakooza, and Mr William Kiwanuka, Chairperson of the Provincial Examinations Agency.
The Provincial Examination Agency, established on March 20, 2023, by Archbishop Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, was created to support diocesan efforts in generating quality assessments. These are designed to monitor learner progress, offer constructive feedback, and enhance classroom instruction.
In his remarks, Canon Tereraho raised concern over the growing disconnect between teacher qualifications and student competence, partly blaming the pressure of national exams.
“It is unfortunate to see schools with qualified teachers but underperforming students. Education should be a service, not a business, we must rescue our children from what I call intellectual genocide,” he said.
He also criticized the high-pressure environment during national exams such as PLE, UCE, and UACE, where both students and parents face intense stress. “Parents are now like students, doing homework and staying up all night. Education should sharpen our children like arrows to face the future.”
Canon Tereraho commended the Church for extending mock exams to all regions, enabling the identification and addressing of region-specific academic challenges.
Rev. Canon Dr. Paul Kakooza highlighted the impact of the Church of Uganda Heads of Education Institutions Association (COUHEIA) and the Provincial Examination Agency, particularly in underserved regions like Karamoja, Kitgum, and Ruwenzori, where access to quality assessments is limited.
He also emphasized the Church’s support for academic research through its Endowment Fund. “Last year, we received 16 research papers, which will be published by Bishop Stuart University. An academic journal featuring work from COUHEIA leaders is also in the pipeline.”
Dr. Kakooza voiced concern over the safety of learners, following media reports indicating that 239 children aged 5–18 were involved in road accidents in the first half of 2024. He urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to install speed humps and clear child-crossing signs near schools.
He also highlighted the growing issue of drug and substance abuse in schools, noting that the Directorate of Education Services has established an office dedicated to promoting drug-free learning environments.
Meanwhile, William Kiwanuka reaffirmed the importance of mock exams in preparing students, especially those in secondary schools, for the competence-based curriculum.
He clarified that A-Level candidates will continue to follow the outgoing curriculum until the new one is officially rolled out at that level.
