[UgaBYTES] UNEB to Issue Results Via SMS

[Meddie Mayanja]

This is really very interesting... 

Next step is to have students register for Advanced level and Ordinary level exams online. They could also check for results online. Egypt is already using this approach and has driven Internet services use tremendously. It also means telecentres can serve as access points in this chain.

Certainly way to go.

Meddie

________________________________________
From: ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org [ugabytes-bounces at lists.ugabytes.org] On Behalf Of Sandra Nassali [snassali at ugabytes.org]
Sent: January 20, 2010 8:50 AM
To: ugabytes
Subject: [UgaBYTES] UNEB to Issue Results Via SMS

Kampala — A NEWLY launched short message service (SMS) will enable students
who sit national exams to get their results immediately after they are
released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB). With the
SMS-service, students in candidate classes countrywide will be also able to
check their exam registration status before sitting the exams.
In addition, UNEB has launched a new design of examination certificates to
curb on the rampant forgery of transcripts and impersonation.

The SMS facility that starts next month, will be implemented in partnership
with a Kampala-based IT solutions company, SMS-Media. It will start with the
release of the results of exams conducted in October and December 2009.

To access the service, users can enter prescribed keywords in their mobile
phones, followed by their index numbers. They then send the SMS to the code
number 6600. They will then receive their exam results or registration
details instantly. Each SMS sent to 6600 will be charged sh500.

Each SMS response contains information of only one candidate. It will
initially be available on MTN, ZAIN and uganda telecom. Arrangements are
ongoing to have it available across all mobile networks.

Results will be released for primary leaving exams (PLE), O'level and
A'level as well as technical education and business courses that are
examined by UNEB. The results will be available by SMS for 10 months from
the date of their release.

UNEB boss Mathew Bukenya said their colleagues in other countries, such as
neighbouring Kenya, are implementing similar programmes.

"Our colleagues were ahead of us. We thought that we needed to move forward
as well," he said.

On the new certificates, Bukenya said they will have enhanced security
features, such as a digital photograph of the candidate as well as a chip
for computerised access to the embedded data. The issuance of the new
certificates will also start next year.

Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire said the new system will make it
easy for students, particularly those who live in the countryside, to
quickly know their scores in the national exams without having to travel.

"There are more candidates than ever before and we needed to come up with a
quick way of interacting with them," she said.

--
Sandra Nassali
Community Facilitator
UgaBYTES Initiative (www.ugabytes.org)
Telecentre.org  (www.telecentrecommunity.ning.com)
Plot 2218 Ggaba Road,
2nd Floor Kangave House
P.O. Box 6081 K'la
Email  snassali at ugabytes.org
chat    (skype)- n.sandra.
Tel      +256-414-370163

Watch out for the 'telecentre.org Idol 2010'. More details on
www.telecentre.org
_______________________________________________
ugabytes mailing list
ugabytes at lists.ugabytes.org
http://lists.ugabytes.org/mailman/listinfo/ugabytes_lists.ugabytes.org