(DDM) – The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has issued fresh directives to guide secondary school administrators on the management of Senior Four (S.4) repeaters under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for the 2026 academic session.
The new guidelines come amid a rising number of students seeking to repeat S.4 after sitting for the Uganda Certificate of Education examinations in recent years.
Education authorities also identified a category of learners who completed Senior Three under the CBC but were unable to progress to S.4 and are now seeking re-entry into the system.
The directive, signed by UNEB Executive Director Dan N. Odongo, outlines specific conditions that must be met before such students can be readmitted into schools.
According to the board, headteachers are required to admit eligible learners only after confirming that they meet all prescribed academic and assessment requirements.
The guidelines stipulate that S.4 repeaters must attend classes throughout the 2026 academic year and actively participate in continuous assessment processes.
Their coursework assessments, which include Activities of Integration and Subject Achievement for the first and second terms, must be properly compiled and submitted to UNEB.
The board further explained that only learners who were previously assessed during their S.3 level and had their results submitted to UNEB would qualify under the arrangement.
Students resuming from S.3 are required to continue their project work, focusing on implementation, documentation, and presentation as part of their final evaluation.
For repeaters, schools have been directed to carefully review earlier project submissions to ensure they meet the expected academic standards before resubmission.
UNEB also instructed that candidates must retain the same subject combinations they initially registered for during their S.3 studies.
School authorities have been warned to strictly adhere to deadlines for submission of assessment records, as outlined in a prior circular issued in February 2026.
The board emphasised that compliance with these timelines is essential to maintaining the integrity of the assessment process.
Education stakeholders say the updated guidelines are part of broader efforts to streamline the implementation of the CBC across Uganda’s secondary education system.
The Competency-Based Curriculum was introduced to shift focus from rote learning to skill development and practical application of knowledge.
However, the transition has presented challenges, particularly in managing students at different stages of progression within the system.
The new measures are intended to ensure fairness and consistency for all learners, regardless of whether they are progressing normally or repeating classes.
Officials believe the guidelines will help schools better manage student transitions while maintaining academic standards.
As implementation begins, attention will be on how effectively schools comply with the directives and support affected learners in completing their education successfully.
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