Uganda – Apply for a Certificate to Upgrade from “O” (Ordinary Level) to “A” (Advanced Level) Status Procedure

o upgrade a school from Ordinary Level (‘O’ Level) to Advanced Level (‘A’ Level) status, follow these steps:

Steps for Application

1. Conduct a Meeting:
   • The proprietor/foundation body should conduct a meeting with the Board of Governors (BOG) to approve or recommend the upgrade of the school to ‘A’ Level status.
2. Obtain Application Form:
   • Pick an application form for upgrading the school to ‘A’ Level status from the Ministry of Education headquarters, permanent secretary, Education secretary, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), or Town Clerk.
3. Fill the Application Form:
   • Complete the application form and attach the required documents.
4. Submit Application:
   • Submit the completed application form along with the required documents to the Ministry of Education, PES/ES, CAO, or Town Clerk.

Required Documents

1. License Letter:
   • A copy of the license letter.
2. Certificate of Registration:
   • The original certificate of registration of the school.
3. BOG Minutes:
   • Minutes of the Board of Governors (BOG) meeting approving and/or recommending the upgrading of the school to ‘A’ Level status.
4. District Inspector of Schools’ Report:
   • A report showing:
     • The laboratory for ‘A’ Level with the list of basic chemicals and apparatus available.
     • A list of core books available in the library.
     • Status of the classes for ‘A’ Level for both Arts and Science subjects.
     • Numbers of furniture in the ‘A’ Level classrooms.
     • Catchment area.
     • Analysis of ‘O’ Level results of Senior 4 candidates handled so far.
     • List of graduate teachers, their qualifications (registration certificates), academic and professional documents, appointment letters, and contracts at this level, as well as subjects they teach.
5. Health and Education Standards Reports:
   • Attach reports from:
     • District Inspector of Schools.
     • District Health Inspector.
     • Directorate of Education Standards in the region where the school is located.

Payment of Fees

• Pay the prescribed fee. Payments can be made by cash, cheque, or credit cards (Visa or MasterCard).
• If paying by cheque, make the payment to the Accountant General of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Verification and Approval

• The Ministry of Education will verify your application and approve it for licensing.
• Ensure that the application is submitted by 30th June of the previous year to allow time for inspection and processing.

Issuance of Certificate

• Upon approval, the certificate of upgrade will be processed and issued to you.

Contact Information

• Ministry of Education and Sports – Head Office
  • Plot 35 Kampala Road, King George way IV
  • Embassy House and Legacy Tower Block A and B Kyadondo 2 Road
  • P.O.Box 7063 Kampala, Uganda
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: Ministry of Education and Sports

Eligibility

• Any registered school with the Ministry of Education and Sports that wishes to upgrade its status.

Fees

• Issuance of the certificate is contingent upon the payment of a fee.

Validity

• The certificate is valid until the proprietor decides otherwise.

Processing Time

• Maximum processing time is 5 days.

Required Information

• Application form
• Approved laboratory tests
• Particulars of the applicant
• Particulars of the school
• Capital costs
• Business information
• Particulars of staff composition

By following these steps and ensuring all required documents and fees are in order, a school can successfully upgrade from ‘O’ Level to ‘A’ Level status in Uganda.