Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo releasing the first assessment results under the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB).
The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has reported that learners acquiring skills through informal training are performing better than those in formal institutions.
This finding comes from UVTAB’s first assessment since its creation in March following the merger of the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB).
According to the Onesmus Oyesigye, Executive Secretary UVTAB, candidates trained informally showed stronger mastery of skills, with a completion rate of 96 percent compared to 81 percent among learners in formal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.
“The good performance may be attributed to the flexible nature of acquiring skills and focused hands-on skilling that the trainees go through,” Oyesigye said.
Oyesigye made the remarks on Friday afternoon as the board released the May-June 2025 assessment result which are the first for UVTAB. The event was held at the newly built vocational and skilling centre at Kyambogo hill.
The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has released its first assessment results showing that students gaining skills informally are outperforming those in formal institutions.
UVTAB assesses learners from both formal and informal settings. Those in formal institutions study in classrooms and laboratories, while those in informal setups acquire skills through apprenticeships, attachments, and on-the-job training.
Prof. Dorothy Okello, a TVET expert and chairperson of UVTAB, said the higher competence levels among learners in informal training could be linked to the nature of their courses. She explained that most informal programs are short, focused, and heavily practical, with limited theoretical content.
Oyesigye noted that formal courses are more intensive, with higher competence requirements in each field compared to short, informal programs. Many formal programs include scientific and mathematical components, which some learners find difficult.
Oyesigye said this challenge is evident in diploma courses in engineering, where formal learners show lower mastery. The results showed weaknesses in electronics among automobile engineering students, and in refrigeration and air conditioning, many failed papers such as Engineering Mathematics III.
He added that informal programs also have less content and focus on a single occupation or skill. However, he noted that the results demonstrate the effectiveness of community-based apprenticeship models in building practical competencies.
Luke Kamoga, a student at Ntinda Vocational Institute, told URN that low competence in formal settings is sometimes linked to the theoretical component. He said learners may understand concepts practically but struggle to answer exam questions.
The data also showed that more candidates from informal training settings registered and sat for the assessments. Out of the 26,610 candidates assessed, 19,511 (64 percent) were from informal training programs, while 10,789 (36 percent) came from formal institutions.
Overall, the results showed strong completion rates across most programs, with 24,116 candidates, representing 75 percent, attaining the required competence to join the workforce or pursue further training.
The data also indicated better performance among female candidates, with 14,188 out of 15,399 (92 percent) achieving full competence compared to 9,928 out of 11,211 males (89 percent).
Commenting on the gender issue, John Chrysostom Muyingo, minister in charge of higher education commended the increasing number of female candidates in accessing TVET.
“This is an encouraging sign of Government efforts to promote gender equity. These results underscore our collective dedication to empowering young Ugandans with skills that meet the demands of industry,” he said.
He added that Looking ahead, the TVET Council should fast-track the operationalization of a comprehensive TVET Qualifications Framework to establish clear pathways for career progression, facilitate industry recognition of skills, and enable seamless mobility for the trainees.
He further noted that the government recognizes TVET as a priority sub sector and is making investment in the area, thus calling for Quality TVET that aligns to international standards will boost industrial growth, attract foreign investment, and accelerate our journey towards sustainable development.
Despite the positive results, UVTAB expressed concern over absenteeism during assessments. A total of 3,681 candidates in both formal and informal setting were absent. About 20 percent of candidates registered for the formal assessments did not show up, accounting for 2,115 absentees. Most were from teacher education and training programs (1,043) followed by business education and training (896). In informal settings, 1,566 registered candidates also missed the assessment sessions.
Oyesigye noted that while absenteeism among registered candidates is a concern, it also reflects some positive trends.
He said surveys show that several trainees who acquire employable skills secure jobs before the assessment period and choose not to return for evaluation, since their main goal was to gain skills and employment. Others remain at workplaces where they were placed for industrial training.
Oyesigye added that many of these trainees later return to complete formal assessments at their convenience, thanks to the board’s flexible and continuous assessment system.
Minister Muyingo, emphasized the need to ensure that all trainees are assessed and certified. He said certification helps eliminate half-trained individuals who lack the required competence and ensures that every qualified trainee receives a certificate recognized both locally and internationally.
-URN
