A Level Combinations in Uganda

As you plan to join A- Level, you should make sure the subject combination you choose will enhance your career pursuit. Many students have ended up doing courses they had not planned to do because they made wrong choices when choosing subject combinations to undertake at A- Level. Most universities in Uganda require a minimum of two principle passes for private students.
However, the competition becomes stiffer when it comes to government sponsored students. The transition from O-Level to A-Level requires very critical analysis of courses to undertake otherwise it is possible for a student to fail to get the intended career course.

Mr Ssewanyana Kizito, the deputy head teacher of Green Hill Academy, says what students need to know is that each combination has essential, relevant and desirable subjects. “Essential subjects are multiplied by three; the relevant are multiplied by two while the desirable are multiplied by one,” he says.

A student who intends to become a doctor must have biology and chemistry as essentials, and physics and mathematics as the relevant subjects. Medicine and most of the professions related to it like pharmacy, nursing among require good knowledge of the human body and other animals, medical technology and the medical related calculations; these are covered in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics respectively.

Some courses like law and mass communication are open to all subject combinations. However, Mr Kizito underlines the importance of history and literature in these courses. “History and literature give students more competence in law and mass communication professions because they acquire analytical skills that are relevant to these disciplines.However, the making of laws that involve scientific Knowledge requires good knowledge of science.”

Recently, the Ministry of Education introduced compulsory submath for all students doing Economics and Science subjects at A-Level. Some students and head teachers received this arrangement with mixed feelings.

“On the positive note, this will make students take mathematics seriously. However, this might discourage some students from doing Economics. Yet some people are excelling in the financial sector but did not do mathematics.”

A lot remains to be desired of all the new government arrangements for post- A- Level education but that a side, you should not rush to choose subject combinations to do at A-Level until you are sure that they meet the basics of your intended career.