THE NEW CURRICULUM

The year 2019 was not far from the year 2018 when some stew was boiling in the Ministry of Education Games and Sports headed by who else but none other than the First Lady (hon. Janet Museveni)

The scent of the boiling stew was sniffed by almost every school going child in the secondary level especially the PLE candidates of 2019. Then what else, could it be but the new curriculum, the new and revised system of education. This curriculum has left the speechless the same because everything is bizarre. Those with unanswered questions are still in suspense but what are these questions that have not been answered. Of course, the curriculum itself, what it’s all about? What is the need to change from the old curriculum to the new one? How many learners are accessed in this curriculum? why report cards are made bulky? But above all, the most boiling piece of meat in the stew is; what should a senior four candidate of 2023 who fails UCE do since the new curriculum would have conquered? And many more other questions would come later.

Everyone has given a different say concerning the curriculum. Some students have appreciated the invention of this curriculum because of various reasons which include: it has encouraged and developed skills among students to be job creators and not job seekers.it has made students creative and innovative. It has made leaders to be; it has triggered confidence through presentation and it has exposed the hidden potential among every student.

Every part of a well-cooked stew has some negative outcomes, just like this pot of stew. Not forgetting the negative side; it also exists where by some students have condemned this curriculum whole heartedly, but why? They have to say that this curriculum is so dear but above all, the inadequacy of study materials especially object material, work and reference materials for further research. But these questions have been bullets being triggered towards the parents. What have the parents done to support the learners in this matter? Parents have a big role to play and it’s to provide study materials e.g. data for research, text books, project work materials among others. Well I have to say, it’s not like we won’t fix the climax of this matter.

Concerning the issue of how students are accessed in the curriculum is one piece of meat over boiling and water waiting to be tasted. Well; learners in this curriculum are accessed topically and these are called activities of integrations. These are given to students so as to know what the learner has been able to understand in the topic. It will also encourage students to put most of their strength on their weaknesses and then also how they are marked. Activities of integration are marked out of 3.0 and are graded according to outstanding, moderate and basic ranging from 2.7- 3.0, 1.5-2.4 and 0.9-0.3 respectively. These integrations contribute much to UCE which is 10% and another 10% from projects making 20% and leaving end of year or course exams to be marked out of 80%. With projects so obvious, we are required to make things to solve our daily problems and protect the environment out of local materials, waste materials etc. to create something beautiful and attractively useful.

In the crack of a nut shell, the boiling stew has to be tasty, flavorsome for the benefit of our country. the always say a beginning of something, you have already done it half. All we need now is to join our heads, support children to get the most mouthwatering, interesting curriculum the world is yet to see. Catch you on the flip side.

By; Karen Precious Bwire