education 14 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Lowered Exam Standards: Producing High Jumpers, Not True Excellence
Uganda's recent O-Level exam results show an explosion of top grades, but this surge signals falling standards rather than rising genius, warns commentator Gawaya Tegulle. Inflated marks risk eroding education credibility and misleading youth about their abilities. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/race-for-speaker-restoring-decorum-impartiality-and-gravitas-to-the-office-5390520
Recent celebrations of Uganda’s Ordinary-Level exam results painted a picture of widespread brilliance, with A’s pouring in nationwide. However, this uniformity raises red flags about declining standards in the education system.
Drawing parallels to Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, where loyalty inflated military ranks without merit, Tegulle argues that lowering the bar makes everyone appear exceptional. Such armies faltered in real conflict; similarly, easy A’s undermine true competence.
The new competence-based curriculum is hailed as revolutionary, shifting from mass failure to mass success. Yet, Tegulle cautions that when excellence becomes the norm, its meaning evaporates, leaving universities, employers, and industries skeptical of qualifications.
Graduates with shiny transcripts but shaky skills face harsh realities in fields like medicine or engineering. Over time, this erodes national credibility, potentially barring Ugandan youth from global opportunities.
Honest assessments, even tough ones, better serve students by reflecting actual progress. Tegulle urges reflection ahead of events like Namilyango College’s Careers Day, noting that misleading science grades could push unfit students into demanding careers.
The core lesson: Systems churning out too many top performers risk the same collapse as overpromoted generals.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)