A Quick Look at The New ICT Syllabus for Lower Secondary

The government of Uganda through the National Curriculum Development Centre has finally released the new ICT syllabus for lower secondary. The new syllabus replaces the old Computer Studies syllabus which was last updated in 2008. According to NCDC, this syllabus is touted to be competence based as opposed to the old one which was knowledge based. In this article we get a quick look at the new syllabus and a few differences between it and the old Computer Studies Syllabus.

Related: Summary of the Subsidiary ICT Syllabus

Number of Topics in the new Syllabus

The new syllabus has 14 topics as opposed to the old one that had 12 topics. The topics in the new syllabus include;

1. Introduction to ICT
2. Computer hardware and system startup
3. File and folder management
4. Word Processing
5. Spreadsheets
6. Electronic Presentation
7. Information Access and Sharing
8. Health and Safety
9. Electronic Publication
10. Database Management Systems
11. Web Design
12. Electronic Waste Management
13. Basic Software Management
14. System and Data Security

All the above topics are grouped into 4 themes which include;

1. Computer Systems
2. Data Management & Sharing
3. ICT Safety & Environment and
4. Publications

Download it in full PDF using the link download link below.

What’s missing in the new ICT Syllabus for Lower Secondary?

Notably missing from the new syllabus is Evolution of computers, Programming Trends in Computing.

Bonuses in the new syllabus

A bonus in the new syllabus is the introduction of the use of e-mail and internet and the skilling of students in installing and uninstalling software. To me, this was long overdue and in fact, E-zone School of Computing has been teaching these to learners as young as 10 years on how to do this. This prepares students for the real world at an early age.

Also introduced in the new ICT syllabus for lower secondary is a topic of Electronic Publishing. This is one of the topics in the A-level ICT syllabus. Students will get skills in publishing documents like business cards, success cards, certificates and the like using desktop publishing software.

Where to get the new Syllabus

The new ICT syllabus for lower secondary has already been delivered in hard copy to schools around the country. Your school library should by now have a copy of this new syllabus.

However, those who wish to have their own copy will have to get them directly from National Curriculum Development Center in Kyambogo. You can get in touch with NCDC on Tel. +256 393 112 088 or through their email: [email protected]

Stephen Dumba
E-zone School of Computing
+256 772 111 223 / +256 752 111 223