education 19 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
From Pandemic Disruptions to New Beginnings: A Gen Z's Unconventional High School Journey
The release of 2025 UACE results marks the end of a challenging high school era for over 165,000 Ugandan students, marked by Covid-19 disruptions that extended their studies to seven years. This milestone signals not an endpoint, but the start of diverse opportunities in higher education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/commentary/our-high-school-journey-was-not-an-ordinary-one-5396426
The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) released the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results on March 13, closing a significant chapter for more than 165,000 students. This moment brings a mix of relief and introspection after an extraordinary high school experience.
These Gen Z students endured a seven-year high school stint due to Covid-19, which shuttered schools for months and shifted learning online. Many grappled with limited resources during O-Level, yet they adapted and persevered through the ordeal.
Beyond the pandemic, they faced intense academic demands: endless study hours, test preparations, and juggling co-curriculars. These trials instilled vital lessons in discipline, resilience, and hard work, echoing Mark Twain’s words: ‘The secret of getting ahead is getting started.’
Support from dedicated teachers, encouraging parents, and peers played a crucial role throughout. Now, with results out, options abound—university pursuits in medicine, engineering, or IT; vocational skills like carpentry or tailoring; or ventures into work, volunteering, and small businesses.
Exam scores are just one piece of the puzzle. As William Shakespeare noted, ‘We know what we are, but know not what we may be.’ True success hinges on determination, creativity, and lifelong learning.
This final cohort under the old curriculum steps forward with courage, ready to contribute to Uganda’s growth. Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)