LIRA– Educationists in the Lango sub-region have asked the Ministry of Education and Sports to revise the A` level syllabus with emphasis on integrating vocational skills training in the curriculum.
They said the current A’ level curriculum doesn’t include vocational training, urging policymakers to integrate the training as soon as possible.
Samuel George Ogwang, a retired Uganda National Examinations Board [UNEB] Principal Officer, said the curriculum has not been revised since 1954 and that there is need to turn it into a competency-based curriculum.
He said whereas the syllabus concentrates on theoretical knowledge, practical skills are paramount, as the country is producing fewer graduates with the much-needed hands-on skills.
He said students with hands-on skills have the advantage of being employed as soon as they leave school.
The educationists were expressing their concerns during regional A’ level curriculum consultative training at Lango College in Lira City organised by the National Curriculum Development Centre [NCDC].
They were discussing the findings of the needs assessment study on the Ugandan A’ level curriculum, done by NCDC.
The study covered 504,000 respondents across the country, with many suggesting that the hands-on skills be integrated into the A’ level curriculum. They also said the curriculum should be learner-centered, not leaving out the career guidance.
They also called for specialization in the subject combinations, integrating ICT in all subjects, introducing research and course works, changing teaching methods, removing irrelevant content from the curriculum and introducing continuous assessments.
Tom Omute the head of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine at Lira University said the output of the research study and key recommendations by NCDC is good enough for the government to improve the education system in the country.
They said a number of studies and research have been conducted in the country but have not been translated into policies due to unwillingness to finance them. They said there is lack of political will to support such studies.
Omute, who is also the chairperson of Lira University Academic staff Association, commended the NCDC for coming up with the findings.
He appealed to the government to implement the findings of the report to improve the education system of the country.
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