Muyingo said while he was impressed with the ever-growing number of females in vocational education institutions, there is stillroom to increase on their intake.

“I note the increase in female students with a lot of appreciation but I am saying that we are not yet where we want to be. I urge parents and employers to guarantee equal opportunities to females in the technical and vocation field,” Muyingo said.

The Minister made these remarks while releasing the November/December end of programme examination results conducted by the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) at its secretariat in Ntinda.

UBTEB statistics indicate that there is an 18 per cent increase in the number of female candidates from 6,191 in 2016 to 7,318 in 2017 compared to their male counterparts which is by 16 per cent. Muyingo said with this trend, government is committed to ensure that the ideals of the skilling Uganda strategy are fulfilled in addition to being guaranteed of quality and skilled workforce.
While presenting the results, UBTEB Executive Secretary Onesmus Oyesigye also noted that females are continuing to bridge the gap in male dominated courses although the gender parity margin remains wide. “Generally, male candidates performed better than females in most programmes but the number of registered female candidates were more across the programmes,” Oyesigye said. “I am optimistic that our girls will close up the gap as long as they have the right attitude towards their studies.”

At least 30,180 candidates registered for the 11th series of final year examinations from November 10 to December 15, 2017 in 429 accredited examination centres across the country. Of the 30,180 candidates, 22,862 were female and 7,318 male. Candidates sat for their examinations in three programmes; business diploma and certificate, technical national certificates and technical advanced craft programmes. Out of the 30,180 registered candidates, only 22,398 sat for these examinations with 16,674 (74%) successfully completing their programmes while 5,724 (26%) have one or more subjects to improve upon their competencies before completing their various programmes.

Overall, Oyesigye said the performance has remained very good with over 75 per cent of the candidates completing their studies in record time.
Muyingo commended the board saying that: “For an appropriate workforce, Uganda needs professionals that are abreast with integrity, dynamism and commitment to quality and excellent work.” He added that the ministry will not tolerate any form of malpractice and committed to stamp out such vices at all examination levels.

Meanwhile, UBTEB chairperson Prof Venansius Baryamureeba said that since January 2018, 11 universities and other tertiary institutions have so far been accredited for national assessment at certificate and diploma levels. “All institutions offering post O-level programmes that allow vertical progression and have not sought accreditation from UBTEB have up to June 30, 2018 to do so [as directed by the ministry of education last year],” Baryamureeba said, urging heads of institutions to as well present their candidates for national assessment by UBTEB. Education ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza ordered that all post O-level programmes shall take a minimum teaching duration of two years – instead of one year or less – effective 2018/19 academic year.