Don’t frustrate competence-based curriculum -Higher institutions of learning told

Institutions of higher learning have been challenged to be flexible and prepare to embrace the competence-based curriculum that government rolled out to help equip learners with the relevant skills to survive even when they leave school.

In February 2020, Uganda implemented the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) in lower secondary education, shifting from a primarily knowledge-based system to one that focuses on skills and competencies.

The universities and higher institutions of learning are expected to start admitting the pioneer students of the new curriculum beginning August this year.

During the capacity building workshop for higher education institutions from western Uganda on transitioning higher education curriculum to competence-based education training at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara City on Friday, the stakeholders were prepared to take up the curriculum initiative believed to be a game changer in the education sector of the country.

“This transition requires a shift from the rigid form of pumping knowledge into students to a flexible –engaging approach that focuses on practical and positive attitude. This journey that the government started is a game changer in the education sector. We do not want you to frustrate it,” said Ms Caroline Kavuma, the registrar Uganda Institute for Teacher Education.

According to her, institutions of higher learning have for long been blamed by the job industry for giving them half-baked graduates.

“We are producing graduates who are redundant, and with knowledge that cannot offer practical solutions to challenges the community faces. We are doing a disservice to the country and parents who struggle to educate their children. This is the opportunity to bring back public confidence, and be key drivers for the transformation of our country ,” she added.

Bishop Stuart University Vice Chancellor, Professor John Mugisha, said the new curriculum requires a mindset shift of all players, including lecturers to critical thinking and offering real-life skills.

“Beginning August this year, all universities and higher institutions of learning will be welcoming students who started the competence-based curriculum in secondary schools. We need to be prepared because higher institutions have for long been taken to be irrelevant for not offering practical skills. Let’s not be a point of blame on this new curriculum,” Professor Mugisha said.

The principal Education officer at National Council for Higher education, also the head of standards, Recognition and Equalising Qualifications, Dr David Musimaami said they have developed standards to be adhered to by higher institutions to align their programmes and training to the new curriculum.

“The ministry of education last year directed us to develop programmes that would see students admitted for 2026-2027 academic year. We did this and sent the approved standards to them and we hope not to encounter any challenges concerning this transformation,” he said.

“This is the curriculum that has been proved to be the best in helping us to be innovative, practical with employable skills that can also help us start our own jobs. If our institutions fail to implement it then secondary schools where it is being implemented will be better than us,’’ said Ms Asia Asiimwe, a student at Bishop Stuart University.