UNMEB Strategic Plan Activities 2023-2024

UNMEB Strategic Plan Activities 2023-2024 | Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board UNMEB has released all UNMEB Strategic Plan Activities for the 2023-2024 academic year…Read full details below:

The purpose of the Strategic Directions for Strengthening Nursing and Midwifery Services is to support efforts to scale up national health systems capacity in order to meet health goals set by Member States in priority health areas including: HIV/AIDS, Making Pregnancy Safer – Maternal and Infant Health (MPR), Tuberculosis (TB), Malaria, Adolescent Health (ADH), Adolescent Health (ADH), Mental Health, and Chronic illnesses.

Strategic Plan Activities of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board UNMEB 2023-2024

1. Limited pool of competent examiners –

Recruitment of 1550 additional examiners in 5 years

Attract more qualified Tutors currently employed by MOH to MOES.
Present to BTVET proposals that limit number of newly licensed Nursing and Midwifery training institutions to match student numbers with Tutor availability.
Ensure that institutions remunerate their Examiners well to avoid the high turnover.
Collaborate with other institutions to acquire data on trained tutors
Lobby government to setup new tutor training institution
Verifying examiner data submitted online

Training of the recruited examiners in setting, and marking of examinations

Review, print and patent UNMEB Examiner training Manual for proper alignment with expected examiner skills.
Conduct Nursing and Midwifery institutions’ mapping to divide them into training blocks/regions
Conduct training of examiners to equip them with skills in managing UNMEB examination activities.
Retool the 1553 existing examiners in new and updated skills
Complete development and operationalize the “examiners database”
Partner with Nursing Council to ensure tutor compliance to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) regulations
Develop UNMEB multimedia training and demonstration materials for repetitive training areas distribute them in schools.
Conduct online training and video conferencing to reduce training costs
Appoint and train a pool of UNMEB trainers of trainers and support them to work with schools regionally and conduct training.
Complete development and operationalize the “examiners database
Partner with Nursing Council to ensure tutor compliance to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) regulations
Develop UNMEB multimedia training and demonstration materials for repetitive training areas distribute them in schools.
Conduct online training and video conferencing to reduce training costs
Appoint and train a pool of UNMEB trainers of trainers and support them to work with schools regionally and conduct training.
Establish cost-sharing mechanisms with regional training blocks.
Conduct training in succession planning and ensure succession to retired and tired examiners.
Establish and formalise school-based mentorship program where trained examiners train newly recruited and hospital-based examiners.
Ensure school-based examiner attachment and mentorship program during continuous assessment

2. Set and align quality examinations to the curriculum

Annually Mobilise and compile quality test items for examinable subjects from a pool of accredited examiners.

Organise workshops for orienting tutors in setting quality test items especially with regard to the revised curricula;
Orient Examiners in how to set test items following the new curricula.
Retool examiners in test item development using UNMEB training manual;
Develop mechanism of not paying for poorly set test items;
Create database for rejected and out-dated test items and engage specialised persons to moderate them for better use;
Acquire and add test Items developed at school level during continuous; assessment to UNMEB item bank as drafts to increase items available for moderation;
Increase budget allocated to setting and moderation activities;
Initiate collaboration and mentorship program at school between UNMEB and UNEB.

Moderate test items for each exam set

Conduct training workshops and debriefs for moderation using UNMEB training manual;
Increase budget allocation to moderation of test items;
Make the guidelines and sanctions known to moderators;
Create mechanism that ensures compliance to moderation standards and guidelines.
Change setting methodology to increasing critical thinking questions
Benchmark with UNEB regarding cost cutting during moderation
Tutors to set on individual basis and forward test items to UNMEB in order to reduce costs and UNMEB team to act as pre-moderators
Develop risk management strategy for test items to add UNMEB risk management plan.

Pre-test examination questions

Commence pretesting in 2022 starting with moderated test items for exit semesters
Add school submitted test items used in continuous assessment to the pool of items for pre-moderation and pre-testing;
Store pretested test items for over eighteen months (one and half years) before insertion in examination paper;
Write/document and present the pre-testing report to include number of pre-tested, rejected, and successfully moderated test items;
Create categories of the above in the item bank (pre-tested, rejected, and successfully moderated) as evidence of pre-testing

Type and proof-read test items

Establish independent manuscript office to house TD and manuscript team for routine work;
Procure five computers for the TD Unit;
Procure Network printer for the TD / unit;
Install surveillance system for the TD/Manuscript office.

Print and pack of examination

Procure an in-house printing facility;
Pilot in-house printing services;
Procure secure packing materials (bags containers, metallic boxes and envelopes);
Develop Electronic Item Bank.