What is the new curriculum in Uganda?

The new curriculum in Uganda is a competency-based curriculum that was introduced in 2020. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in the 21st century. The new curriculum focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It also emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship, innovation, and social responsibility.
The new curriculum is being implemented in phases, starting with lower secondary school (Senior One and Two). It will be fully implemented in all levels of secondary education by 2025.
The new curriculum has a number of key features, including:
- A focus on competency: The new curriculum is focused on developing students’ competencies, which are defined as the ability to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems and achieve goals.
- An emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving: The new curriculum emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are taught to think critically about information, identify problems, and develop solutions.
- A focus on creativity and innovation: The new curriculum also emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation. Students are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with new and innovative ideas.
- An emphasis on entrepreneurship and social responsibility: The new curriculum also emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship and social responsibility. Students are taught about the basics of entrepreneurship and how to start their own businesses. They are also taught about the importance of giving back to their communities.
Some of the specific changes introduced by the new curriculum include:
- A reduction in the number of subjects taught at lower secondary level, from 43 to 21.
- A focus on integrating subjects, so that students can learn how to apply knowledge and skills from different subjects to solve real-world problems.
- A greater emphasis on practical learning, such as through hands-on projects and internships.
- A new focus on social-emotional learning, such as developing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
The new curriculum is still in its early stages of implementation, but it has the potential to be a significant improvement over the previous curriculum. It is designed to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century by focusing on the skills and values they need to be successful in the workplace and in life.
composed by Wakobeire Ashley