UNEB Invigilators’ Pay Increased By UNEB

The government has decided to raise the pay for invigilators overseeing examinations conducted by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB). The revised rates for invigilators have been increased from 35,000 to 45,000 shillings per day.

This adjustment aims to accommodate the rising daily transportation costs, supervision allowances, and to ensure adequate security measures during exam administration, including overt and covert operations.

This decision is outlined in the report of the budget committee of Parliament on the National Budget Framework Paper for the financial years 2024/25 to 2028/29.

The report, approved by the House with amendments on January 31, 2024, emphasizes the need to enhance UNEB’s travel inland budget. This budget allocation covers transportation expenses for exam materials, chief invigilators, invigilators, scouts, area supervisors, as well as markers to and from marking centers.

Chaired by Kachumbala County MP Patrick Isiagi Opolot, the committee highlighted the necessity for an additional 8.5 billion shillings to bolster inland travel arrangements and 2.96 billion shillings for heightened examination security measures.

These recommendations were made in response to UNEB’s budgetary requirements and were endorsed by the House, urging the Ministry of Finance to allocate the necessary funds accordingly.

UNEB engages thousands of teachers annually to oversee the administration of exams such as the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.

Payment for these invigilators is processed through their bank accounts, with chief invigilators receiving higher compensation compared to regular invigilators.

Furthermore, the Parliament approved an allocation of 4.6 billion shillings to enhance the remuneration of UNEB examiners. Dan Odongo, the executive secretary of UNEB, expressed concerns to the committee regarding the inadequacy of examiner fees relative to the demanding nature of their work.

The report highlighted the challenge faced by the board in attracting a sufficient number of examiners due to perceived low compensation rates. The allocated funds aim to address this issue by providing additional incentives for marking candidates’ scripts.

Additionally, efforts to improve the quality of UNEB certificates and result slips were discussed. This involves incorporating enhanced security features in certificates and addressing the increased costs associated with information and communication technology (ICT) consumables utilized in exam processing and printing.

The committee recommended an additional allocation of 1.3 billion shillings from the Ministry of Finance to support these initiatives, underscoring the importance of maintaining the integrity and credibility of UNEB certifications.