Competency Based Learning: How misinterpretation and poor implementation are driving up education costs

What the report says

A report by The Independent Uganda says Uganda’s lower secondary Competency Based Curriculum, introduced to shift learning away from memorization and toward practical skills, is being unevenly implemented in a way that is increasing costs for families. The article, published from Kampala, cites parents, teachers, headteachers and education experts who say some schools are treating CBC-linked activities as mandatory expenses, including project materials, field trips, craft supplies and digital devices.

Parents quoted in the report said they are regularly asked to provide new items each term and are often unclear about which requirements are truly necessary. Educators interviewed argued that the problem is less the curriculum itself than how some teachers and schools understand it. They said CBC is intended to use locally available materials, creativity and the surrounding environment, but many teachers still rely on expensive, copied projects from other schools.

The story also notes that some teachers were trained under the older system and need more practical support to adapt to learner-centered teaching. A national trainer and an educationist said better lesson planning, improvisation and stronger teacher training are essential if the curriculum is to work as intended. They also pointed to limited government funding and, in some cases, private schools using CBC as a rationale for extra charges. The issue matters because CBC was meant to improve skills and creativity, not become a new burden on households.