Several students from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) at Makerere University have showcased different innovations that can be used to train learners in the new competence-based curriculum that has been rolled out across different levels of learning.
These student innovations were presented during the CEES Open Day and Skills Expo held on Friday 14th March 2025 at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium under the theme: “Empowering Future Educators Through Skills and Innovation for National Prosperity.”
The CEES Open Day and Skills Expo 2025 comes at a time when the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Education and Sports in partnership with the National Curriculum Development Centre is implementing the new competence- based curriculum. This strategic direction requires both the teachers and the students to embrace the teaching and learning approaches for effective delivery and implementation.
Featuring student presentations and innovations as well as a panel discussion focusing on strategies for adopting the new curriculum, the student-driven event organized by CEES student leaders with the support of the College leadership aimed at equipping education students with practical skills to prepare them for their roles as future educators.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended the students and staff for prioritizing innovations and presentations on the new competence-based curriculum. In a speech read by Prof. Robert Wamala, the Acting Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, the Vice Chancellor noted that the College of Education and External Studies is mandated to train students who will implement the new competence-based curriculum at the lower secondary, upper secondary and at institutions of higher learning.
“The new competence-based curriculum focuses on equipping learners with practical skills. The College has undertaken strategies to train and produce teachers who can effectively teach students and actively engage them in practical sessions. Makerere University is committed to providing innovative teaching, learning and community engagement. This Open Day and Skills Expo aligns perfectly with our vision of producing graduates who are not only knowledgeable, but also fit for purpose in the evolving job market,” he said.
He added: “I must emphasize that there are changing demands in education that go beyond theoretical instructions and indeed require practical and hands-on experiences. I believe that this skills expo serves as a bridge between academia, industry and other key stakeholders. It will help students showcase skills and innovations like we have seen, and explore entrepreneurship and self-employment.”
The Vice Chancellor encouraged students to seize this opportunity to develop more innovations that go beyond simplifying education, to blending an entrepreneurship ideology to create jobs in an economy that is increasingly evolving.
“To our students, this is your chance to demonstrate your capabilities, learn from others, but also take both steps towards building your future careers. It is possible that you can look at yourself as a teacher, but allow me to remind you that you can as well look at yourself as an entrepreneur, innovator and business person. So, size this opportunity to diversify your skills and make meaningful connections,” he guided.
On behalf of Prof. Anthony Mugagga, the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu described the event as a clear demonstration of Makerere University’s commitment to preparing students for the new competence-based curriculum.
“We are delighted that our students have organized this event in an effort to transition to a skills-based curriculum. Our students represent a group that embraces innovative teaching and learning approaches, and are ready to continue learning and sharing,” he said.
“The College of Education and External Studies is working with the National Curriculum Development Centre to ensure the effective delivery of the competence-based curriculum at the Secondary School and University levels.
He acknowledged the National Curriculum Development Centre for being an instrumental partner who has organized several workshops that have equipped the staff at the College of Education and External Studies with the 21st century skills required to deliver the new competence based curriculum.
Mr. Wilson Ssabavuma who represented the Executive Director of the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) commended the College of Education and External Studies for undertaking an innovative approach to transform the service teaching force into a competent labour force.
“I take this opportunity to thank the College of Education and External Studies for inviting the National Curriculum Development Centre to witness the steps and strategies undertaken to transform the service teaching force into a competent labour force positioned and ready to deliver the competence-based curriculum,” he said.
“You will agree with me that most of us gathered here are products of the old curriculum. Since the introduction of secondary education in Uganda, it is the first time, we are having major reforms in education following the realisation that we cannot dodge the way of change that is taking place all over the world. We must definitely transform our education to ensure that we remain relevant to the national, regional and global economies,” he stated.
He highlighted that the different stakeholders noted that the only way to produce a competent work force would be through changing the education sector to meet the market demands and the 21st century trends.
“In 2011, we started to revise the old curriculum. In 2020, we rolled out the competence-based curriculum at the Ordinary level. This year, we have done the same to the Advanced level curriculum,” Mr. Ssabavuma added.
He disclosed that when the NCDC rolled out the new curriculum, it became problematic not only to students, but also to the teachers at the different levels. To address this challenge, mindset change approaches and a number of initiatives including capacity building workshops were implemented to onboard the different stakeholders.
“Teacher educators have to be responsive to the ongoing changes in the local, regional and global trends so that we train human resources that is suited to the task. I am happy to note that the staff and students at the College of Education and External Studies have embraced the competence-based curriculum. I am particularly pleased to see that you have come up with home grown innovations. This attempt is very useful and we commend you for that initiative,” he said.
Ms Anyango Oliver, one such innovator, built an innovation that explains the different types of unemployment. Her innovation describes what unemployment is, and different types of un employment including structure and cyclical unemployment.
Her innovation further identifies the causes of these types of unemployment, effects of unemployment to individuals and the society, and suggest solutions to these kinds of unemployment.
Ms Anyango believes such a model of looking at employment, if adapted, can be solution-based because it identifies the problem, its causes, and also outlines possible solutions.
Mr. Richard Nizeyimana, a Student Leader at CEES thanked students for actively participating in Open Day and Skills Expo. He emphasized that the Expo provided a platform to students to exhibit the innovations in line with the competence-based curriculum. “We have used local materials to make teaching aids that can explain concepts for students. We are solving the problem of teachers going out there in the field and teaching their students’ things that are only based on theory. We want to be on point and effectively deliver the new competence-based curriculum to students both at O and A-level,” he stated.
