The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) has announced the development of a new Early Childhood Development (ECD) learning curriculum set for rollout in 2024. Dr. Deborah Kyazze Magera, the NCDC Manager for Early Childhood Care and Education, revealed that the curriculum is currently undergoing its final review stages.
The announcement came during a two-day consultative stakeholders’ meeting at Colline Hotel, where Dr. Magera emphasized the outdated nature of the current ECD curriculum. The curriculum had not been reviewed for 18 years, despite the requirement for a review every five years. The NCDC Director, Dr. Grace Baguma, explained that the final ECD curriculum would be refined based on the information gathered during the stakeholder meeting, with the education minister’s subsequent approval.
Dr. Magera highlighted significant improvements in the new ECD curriculum, introducing seven areas of focus compared to the previous five. The curriculum, termed the Early Learning Experience Curriculum, emphasizes holistic development, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive aspects. The addition of areas like Music Dance and Drama (MDD), art and craft, and understanding oneself aims to provide a well-rounded learning experience.
One key feature of the new curriculum is the advocacy for the play method, recognizing that children learn effectively through play. Dr. Magera emphasized that play enables children to develop holistically and significantly contributes to their learning experience. The curriculum encourages the use of low-cost and no-cost materials and emphasizes digital integration to align with evolving digital skills.
Assistant Commissioner Elizabeth Mbatudde from the Ministry of Education and Sports noted the shift from fact-based teaching to a more student-centered approach. The new curriculum encourages children to construct their knowledge through play methodology, fostering creativity and imagination.
In response to the prevalence of private schools handling nursery sections, Dr. Magera urged schools with their nursery teaching frameworks to submit them to NCDC for assessment and alignment with the new ECD framework.
The new ECD curriculum eliminates exams and focuses on continuous assessment of learners’ competencies. Dr. Magera recommended the observation method, where teachers use their eyes to assess learners’ development, correct where necessary, and encourage children to take an active role in their learning.
The daily routine serves as an interpretative approach to the curriculum, promoting a child-centric environment where teachers facilitate and guide rather than dominate the learning process. The new curriculum will be complemented by assessment guidelines, daily routine guides, and an early childhood care and education framework to ensure comprehensive understanding by teachers, learners, and parents.
Harriet Kyakuha, the Early Childhood Development Technical Advisor at Plan International, stressed the importance of rethinking learning areas, introducing emerging content and competencies, and aligning the curriculum with global trends. The new ECD curriculum will consist of independent frameworks for Baby Class, Middle Class, and Top Class, departing from the single-document approach of the current framework.
