New UCE assessment: How Muslim schools performed

By Shahista Namale
The release of the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results on Tuesday brought a mix of confusion and celebration among parents, learners, and teachers.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) introduced a new grading system under the New Lower Secondary Curriculum, shifting from the traditional divisions-based criteria to a competency-based approach.
Under this system, a candidate qualifies for a UCE certificate if they achieve a minimum competency level grade of D in any subject. This change left many stakeholders struggling to interpret the results, prompting discussions in Parliament on Thursday.
Out of the 357,120 candidates who sat for the exams, 350,146 (98.05%) passed and received Result 1, while 6,974 (1.95%) failed, categorized under Result 2 and Result 3 for not meeting the minimum requirements.
Despite the initial confusion, Muslim schools and communities across the country celebrated outstanding performances.
Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu, head of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Education Department, commended Muslim school heads and parents for prioritizing education despite challenges.
He emphasized the importance of education in shaping a better future and upholding religious values.

“The new curriculum has not been easy for learners or educators, as it is the first of its kind in Uganda. However, we thank Allah that our schools have shown exceptional performance. This is a significant milestone for the Muslim community,” Sheikh Cucu said.
Several Muslim schools visited by The Friday Call stood out for their good results.
Kisaasi College School in Kampala District, for instance, ranked among the top 10 in the district under the new curriculum.
Director Latif Ssebaggala expressed gratitude for the school’s performance.
“This year marked the inaugural cohort of the new curriculum, and naturally, we were all a bit anxious about the outcome. However, as the Kisaasi College School community, we are happy to say Alhamdulillah, and praise Allah for enabling us to excel,” Ssebaggala said.
Kinaawa High School Mugongo also celebrated a 100% pass rate, with 312 candidates all achieving Result 1, including 204 As, 1,238 Bs, 983 Cs, and 376 Ds.
Hajjat Aisha Nakakinde Matovu, Headteacher, praised the pioneer cohort for their success despite the challenges of the new curriculum.
Similarly, Kinaawa High School Kawempe Campus achieved a 100% pass rate, with 228 candidates securing Result 1, including 116 As, 635 Bs, 959 Cs, and 335 Ds.
Other notable performances included Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, which achieved 794 As and 1,772 Bs; Kibuli Secondary School, with 655 As; and Bilal Islamic School Bwaise, which registered 163 As and 746 Bs.
Nabisunsa Girls School meanwhile registered 459 As.
In Wakiso District, Mbogo High School registered 187 As and 742 Bs, while Madina Islamic Secondary School in Nsanji recorded 158 As and 1,287 Bs.
Busiika Muslim Secondary School in Luwero District also celebrated strong results, with candidates achieving 159 As and 512 Bs.