The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) has declared that they need at least Shs 1 billion to review the advanced (A) level curriculum.
The secondary department manager at NCDC, John Okumu explains that they found it imperative to embark on the process of reviewing the A’ Level curriculum before the pioneers of the new lower secondary curriculum, which was rolled out in 2020 transit to senior five.
He further illustrates that when learners are trained under the competence-based curriculum at their lower secondary level, they shouldn’t return to the old curriculum when they reach A’ Level.
According to Okumu, they have embarked on the situation analysis at A’level on what ought to be done with the curriculum.
“We’re conducting at the moment a situational analysis of A’level. This situational analysis is what will inform us on for example what type of subjects are relevant in A’level. What subjects are not relevant. What content is outdated.” He said.
He also slightly hinted at the possibility that principal subjects shall be reduced from three to two, basing on what’s necessary to qualify students.
“We’re also looking at, is it okay for a student at A’level to do three principal subjects or do two because when you look at admissions, they consider two best done subjects. The third one even if it is best done, it is an addition. For example, if you want to do medicine, they will look at your performance in Biology and Chemistry, so Physics may not be so important in medicine. Why should a student who is going to do medicine be asked to do physics? Why do you concentrate your efforts and time to do the two subjects.”
He says that they expect to complete the needs assessment by the end of next term. So far the western and eastern regions have been completed. The consultations are carried out with teachers, students, people from the world of work, school administrators and universities.
After a complete situation analysis, NCDC will present a report for discussion during consultative meetings before they embark on training, designing of curriculum and benchmarking with schools at both local and international levels.
According to Dr Bernadette Nambi, the deputy director NCDC, all neighbouring countries in the region have revised their curriculum from preprimary to university, adding that Uganda is trying to do the same so as not to lag behind.
Nambi calls upon universities to start discussions around developing competency-based curriculums in order to complete the cycle with competent students ready to join the world of work.
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