Shs720 per Script: Odongo Raises Alarm Over Examiner Pay

By Skika Reporter.

The Executive Director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), Dan Nokrach Odongo, has cautioned Parliament that persistently low payments to examiners are threatening the credibility of Uganda’s national examinations at a time of rising living costs and sweeping curriculum reforms.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports in Kampala on February 18, 2026, Odongo said the current facilitation for teachers who mark national exams is no longer realistic or sustainable.

He illustrated the disparity by noting that examiners marking a single Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) script under the old curriculum earn Shs720—an amount that cannot purchase even a small packet of boiled groundnuts, now priced at about Shs1,000. Under the new competency-based curriculum, the rate is only slightly higher at Shs756 per script.

To further highlight the gap, Odongo pointed out that a basic snack such as a rolex in downtown Kampala costs around Shs2,500, while a glass of juice goes for about Shs3,000—well beyond what an examiner earns per script.

At that rate, an examiner who marks 100 scripts would take home approximately Shs75,600, a figure far below even modest monthly earnings elsewhere in the labour market.

Odongo warned that such low and unstable pay creates pressure on examiners to mark quickly in order to increase their earnings. This is particularly concerning under the competency-based curriculum, which requires detailed evaluation of critical thinking, problem-solving and application of knowledge rather than simple memorisation.

He said the mismatch between the demands of modern assessment and the remuneration offered places professionals in a difficult position—torn between earning enough to survive and dedicating the time required for careful, high-quality marking.

Uneb has proposed increasing the PLE marking rate to Shs1,000 per script, although this would still leave a funding shortfall of Shs244 per script.

At the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) level, examiners currently earn Shs1,260 per script. Uneb is proposing Shs1,500, while examiners themselves are pushing for Shs2,000. For the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), the current rate of Shs1,488 per script would rise to Shs2,000 under Uneb’s proposal, leaving a gap of Shs512.

“These rates were last reviewed significantly nearly a decade ago,” Odongo told legislators, adding that inflation, higher living costs and the shift to more sophisticated assessment methods have rendered the current structure inadequate.

He explained that scripts now undergo a multi-layered marking process involving several examiners to enhance accuracy and minimise bias. Workloads are digitally allocated to prevent overburdening individuals and to reduce rushed grading.

However, he warned that if compensation remains low, experienced teachers may opt out of the marking exercise altogether, weakening the system.

The concerns about examiner pay arise against a backdrop of wider financial constraints at Uneb. The board requires Shs111.24 billion to fully execute its mandate in the 2026/27 financial year but currently has access to only Shs48.82 billion, leaving a funding gap of Shs62.02 billion.

Uneb is also seeking to increase invigilation allowances from Shs45,000 to Shs60,000 per person for the examination period, creating a shortfall of Shs15,000 per individual.

Members of Parliament expressed concern over the funding gaps. Emmanuel Ongiertho warned that chronic underfunding could open the door to examination malpractice, while Janet Grace Okori-Moe described the requested Shs62 billion as relatively modest given the national importance of credible assessments. Philip Ilukol praised Uneb’s efforts to maintain standards and urged Parliament to back the proposed increments.

The committee chairperson, James Kubeketerya, called for detailed justification of the additional funds, noting that the Budget Committee had requested further explanations. Deputy Chairperson Molly Asiimwe also sought clarity on examiners’ workloads, prompting Odongo to elaborate on existing safeguards.

National examinations remain pivotal in determining students’ academic and career trajectories. Each year, hundreds of thousands of candidates sit PLE to transition to secondary school, while UCE and UACE results shape access to tertiary education and employment.

Odongo emphasised that the strength of Uganda’s examination system ultimately rests on the motivation and professionalism of its examiners, warning that without improved remuneration, the reliability and integrity of national assessments could be compromised.