The government, through the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), is conducting an assessment of the new lower secondary curriculum in an effort to evaluate students’ competency levels before the final Uganda Certificate of Examinations (UCE), .
According to Mr. Patrick Byakatonda, the Executive Director of DIT, this assessment, while not compulsory for schools to register, aids them in evaluating the competence of their students before the final examinations. The DIT assessment also offers international certifications to students, enhancing their qualifications post Ordinary Level.
Mr. Byakatonda highlighted that the DIT certification not only evaluates students but also provides opportunities for international certifications, enabling individuals uninterested in pursuing higher education to apply for jobs in the national and international job markets. This certification is valuable both within the country’s education system and in the informal sector, accommodating even those who did not attend formal schooling.
Mr. Michael Okumu, the Deputy Director in charge of assessment and certification at DIT, disclosed that the institution has already exceeded the target for assessing students in both formal and informal sectors for the 2023/2024 financial year. The target was 119,960 students, and they have already assessed 119,000 in half a year. The goal is to assess 200,000 students by the following year.
The assessment covers various vocational institutions, including formal and informal sectors, Jua kali, industrial hubs, and presidential initiatives. Students under the new curriculum are expected to sit for their UCE examinations, where subjects under the competency-based curriculum will be assessed for the first time.
The new lower secondary education curriculum, implemented by the government in February 2020, aims to meet learners’ needs, particularly in skills training and enhancement. The National Curriculum Development Centre reduced the teaching subjects from 43 to 21, with schools teaching 12 subjects at Senior One and Two. UCE candidates for this year will exit with a minimum of eight or a maximum of nine subjects, seven of which are compulsory.
