NCDC Defends Competence-Based Curriculum, Rejects Claims It Is Too Costly

What the report says

Uganda’s National Curriculum Development Centre has defended the country’s competence-based curriculum, saying it was created to build practical skills and critical thinking while relying on materials that are already available to schools and households. The response comes amid complaints from some parents that the new system is expensive and complicated to follow. Nile Post reported that the curriculum began in February 2020 for lower secondary schools and represents a shift away from more traditional, teacher-led instruction.

According to NCDC, the Covid-19 lockdown interrupted rollout but also gave the Ministry of Education and Sports time to orient teachers on the new approach. The centre says teachers now act more as facilitators, helping learners work in groups, discuss scenarios and apply lessons to real-life situations. It also noted that the school day has been reorganized to include classroom learning in the morning, then projects and sports later in the day to support practical learning.

Speaking on Salam TV’s Omukeeze programme, NCDC public relations officer Taddeo Bwambale rejected the idea that the curriculum is too costly, arguing that students can complete projects using everyday items such as plastic and paper. He said the reform was introduced because education needed to adapt to a changing world and prepare learners for life beyond the classroom.

NCDC said it continues to review the curriculum and remains open to adjustments, with the review process also expected to cover primary and pre-primary levels. The debate highlights wider concerns in Uganda about curriculum reform, teacher preparedness and the cost of implementing skills-based education in schools.