By Spy Uganda
Kampala: With only two months remaining until the start of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations for the 2024 academic year, the Ministry of Education and Sports has yet to release the new curriculum for students advancing to Senior Five next year.
The pioneer cohort studying under the new lower secondary school curriculum, introduced in 2020, is set to complete Senior Four. The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is tasked with conducting the UCE exams in line with the competence-based curriculum.
However, for the second time this year, the Ministry of Education and Sports has failed to present the new ‘A’ level curriculum to Parliament, which will guide the studies for students joining Senior Five in March 2025.
On Tuesday, Igara West MP Gafwa Mbwatekamwa raised concerns about the lack of public information regarding the future of these students. He questioned the State Minister for Higher Education,John Chrysestom Muyingo about whether the students will continue with the old curriculum upon entering Senior Five.
“Our children are set to take exams based on the competence-based curriculum. It is unfortunate that once they complete Senior Four, there is no new curriculum for them to follow in Senior Five. What is going to happen to our children?” Mbwatekamwa asked.
He urged Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa to summon Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni to update Parliament on the Ministry’s progress in developing a relevant curriculum for Senior Five.
Mbwatekamwa highlighted the potential challenges for learners who, after studying a revised curriculum, would revert to the old model in their next level of education. He criticized the apparent lack of planning, pointing out that many schools run by Minister Muyingo are performing well.
In response, Minister Muyingo assured Parliament that the new ‘A’ level curriculum is nearing completion and will be released before the current Senior Four students advance to Senior Five.
“Our candidates this year will be assessed according to the new curriculum. It is not true that the Ministry lacks a plan for them. We have a plan and will present it soon,” Muyingo stated. However, he did not provide specific timelines for the release of the new curriculum.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa refrained from opening a debate on the matter, suggesting that the Committee on Education and Sports engage with officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) to report back to the House.
Earlier this year, State Minister for Primary Education Joyce Moriko Kaducu informed Parliament that the ‘A’ level curriculum was in its final stages. She acknowledged challenges with the implementation of the lower secondary school curriculum, particularly in determining subject combinations for ‘A’ level.
“The Ministry is addressing all challenges related to the competence-based curriculum to ensure its consolidation before progressing to the ‘A’ level curriculum. UNEB has initiated stakeholder engagements to raise awareness on the new curriculum and expected changes in results reporting,” Kaducu stated.
She also mentioned that the Ministry plans to train teachers and release instructional materials prior to the rollout of the new ‘A’ level curriculum.
In July, UNEB conducted seminars nationwide to train teachers on marking and grading under the new curriculum. Some teachers expressed concerns about the implementation process.
Bright Mumbere, a teacher with 14 years of experience, questioned how new graduates from universities, trained under the old curriculum, would effectively teach the new curriculum.
“Yes, in-service teachers have undergone training on the new curriculum, but the Ministry should address the anticipated challenges. Many teachers graduate annually, but their university training is based on the old curriculum. How will they teach students using new approaches?” Mumbere asked.
Parliament has previously debated the effectiveness of the new lower secondary school curriculum since its inception in 2020. In February 2020, former Leader of Opposition Betty Aol Acan and MP Mathias Mpuuga demanded answers about the curriculum’s effectiveness.
Then-Speaker Rebecca Kadaga criticized the Ministry for its refusal to provide a statement and summoned Education Minister Janet Museveni to address Parliament.
Kadaga emphasized the seriousness of the curriculum issues, stating, “The concerns about the lower secondary school curriculum must be addressed. The Minister of Education must answer these questions for the country.”
