EDUCATION IS MORE THAN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

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Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and O-level results were recently released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB). Tabu Butagira,  Managing Editor at the Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) at the time, shared a deeply insightful perspective on the media’s hyped coverage of national examinations’ results and the implications on debasing education in the country. It was published in the Daily Monitor newspaper: Media hype of exams’ results debasing education (Monday, February 5, 2024).

“The publicity blitz is not adding value to the process of assessment, the results themselves do not reflect the holistic abilities of learners, and the singular focus on grades is itself unintelligent.”

The media attention and coverage have not changed, with the focus on top-performing students, the ‘stars’, celebrations of the achievers, and the statistics of the top schools in the country, in the various districts and regionally.

In what may seem controversial, Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Executive Director of National Planning Authority (NPA), while speaking at a recent Stanbic Economic Forum criticized parents who celebrate when their children score Aggregate 4. He said, “I see many parents celebrating 4s (Aggregate), useless fours. What is in a Primary Seven (P.7) Certificate to waste your time? Why the hell do you have high-stakes examinations at the age of 12 and call my child who does not make it stupid? It is the system that’s stupid, not the child. I have proposed this even to the President to make changes to the system (of examination) .”

At an event for the old boys of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga underscored the importance of education being more than just grades. “The wholesomeness of a student isn’t merely limited to academic achievements. Great schools don’t teach. They mould values”, said Mayiga.

What can be done to make the education system holistic in nature? As a way of trying to improve the education and media coverage, Tabu suggests doing a research, covering a period not less than a decade, to inquire into where the best brains at PLE, O-level and A-level have ended, among others.

A few of the best performing students in the past were;

1. Musinguzi Begumisa (St. Mary’s College Kisubi).
   He was the best student in the country in the 2001 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE). He was in Ishaka working as a teaching assistant when the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released the results. The best performing student was announced and that was Begumisa. Many journalists looked for, called and interviewed him.  Begumisa is a Civil Engineer and expert in Public Infrastructure Management. He previously worked with the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) as a materials specialist. He is the author of a book on mental health titled IN SEARCH OF SANITY.

1. Ocitti Sunday Paul Labeja (U0033/541) of St. Mary’s College Kisubi.
   He was the second-best student in Science in the Uganda Advance Certificate of Education (UACE) according to the results released by UNEB on Monday, July 1, 1996. He scored 3As in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Ocitti is a Pharmacist and works with the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC). He is a specialist in HIV/AIDS treatment and research, and has expertise in infectious disease control, epidemiology, as well as drug resistance treatment.

1. Noah Ochima (St. Mary’s College Kisubi).
   In 2002, Uganda National Examinations Board released the O-level examinations results and Noah had scored 10 in 10 (10 Distinctions 1 in 10 subjects). He emerged the best student in the country. Later he was a Commonwealth Scholar and graduated with a Distinction, M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy Futures at Imperial College London. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University. Noah is a Technical Expert on Solar and Off-grid energy with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Uganda.

1. Akena Binaisa Gabriel (St. Joseph’s College, Layibi).
   He was so brilliant that his classmates nicknamed him Computer. Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released results for the 1998 Uganda Certificate of Education exams and Akena was among the best performing students. He scored 6 Distinctions in six subjects (6 D1s)! He was the best student in Gulu district and ranked among the best students in the country. Like his mates called him, he studied Computing. Akena co-founded IT firm, Diro Technologies Ltd. It provides reputable services in the areas of Cyber security, Digital Forensics, IT Networks and Infrastructure, among others.

1. Ben Kiwanuka Okot (U004/002) (St. Joseph’s College, Layibi).
   He was the best student in the East African Certificate of Education (EACE) in 1978.  He scored 06 for the best six and Aggregate 12 for nine subjects. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in the field of Quantity Survey and contributed immensely in the construction sector at the Uganda National Housing Corporation. He has Ben Kiwanuka Okot Close located along Old Kira Road named after him.

1. Architect & Visual Artist Paul Kyegombe (St. Mary’s College Kisubi).
   He was an exceptional student and perhaps the best student of his generation. When the O-level examination results for 1988 were released, Kyegombe emerged as the best student in the country and one of the best students for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examinations again. Kyegombe was admitted to the Faculty of Technology, Makerere University, to study Architecture, but soon transferred to the University of Huddersfield (UK). In 2015, Kyegombe was recognized by the White House for his portrait painting of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

1. Oyango Owor (MM Wairaka College).
   He was the best student in Jinja and was among the best students in the country according to the results of the 1999 A-level examinations released by the Uganda National Examinations Board. He scored 3As, a B, and was the best student in poetry. Oyango is a practicing lawyer and an entrepreneur with a number of companies, including a car hire service. He is the author of Habits That Work (Simple Habits for Radical Results), etc.

1. Aliker Denis (Bishop Angelo Negri Primary School).
   He scored Aggregate 4 (Four Distinctions 1in four subjects) in 1986. He was one of the best pupils in the district and the entire country. Aliker is a medical doctor and he has been in medical practice for over 20 years in America. Dr Denis Aliker, MD, is a specialist in family medicine with expertise in treating heart failure, hypertension, and other conditions.

1. Jude Gamukama (U0033/551)(St. Mary’s College Kisubi).
   Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) released results of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams on July 1, 1996.  Jude Gamukama was one of the best-performing students. He scored 3As in History, Economics and Literature, and he was ranked number two in ARTS in the country. Gamukama is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a partner in a law firm and has been in legal practice for a long time.

@Odokij

Written by

Odoki Jimmy

Jimmy Odoki Acellam is Coordinator of Heartsounds Uganda and a Mental Health Advocate.

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