The long awaited ICT Learners Guide / Textbook prototype by National Curriculum Development Center (NCDC) is out!
Unlike in the old curriculum where NCDC only developed the syllabus documents for each subject and then different authors went ahead to create textbooks and pamphlets, in the New Curriculum, NCDC is also developing Learners Textbooks and Teachers Guides for all subjects in the new Lower Secondary Curriculum to ensure harmonized teaching and learning in all schools.
Also Read: NCDC Learners Textbooks and Teachers Guides To Be Used as Main References in New Curriculum
As schools wait for hardcopy (printed) Learners Text Books and Teachers Guides based on the New Curriculum to be printed by the National Curriculum Development Center, soft copies of the prototypes have been shared with the public for the mean time to kickoff the implementation of the curriculum.
Prototypes for most of the subjects were first released last month on the NCDC website at ncdc.go.ug/publications, but some subjects were missing, especially the electives including ICT. The one for ICT has been finalized today and Mr. Tuhame Moses, an ICT Specialist at NCDC, shared it with the members of the ICT Teachers Association of Uganda who have been asking for it ever since the term begun.
We have uploaded a backup copy for download through this website below:
Also read this Article where we included download links for other subjects.
The new curriculum will has 21 subjects instead of 43 in the previous one.
Senior One and Two students are taking 12 subjects 11 of which are compulsory. As they advance to Senior Three, the compulsory subjects will reduce to seven and the candidates will exit after four years with a minimum of eight subjects and a maximum of nine.
From a knowledge-based curriculum to a competence and skills-based curriculum
The key change in the curriculum is a move from a knowledge-based curriculum to a competence and skills-based curriculum. It is no longer sufficient to accumulate large amounts of knowledge. Young people need to develop the ability to apply their learning with confidence in a range of situations. A level of competence is the ability to use knowledge rather than just to acquire it. This approach to teaching and learning is in support of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on lifelong learning.
The change can be summarized in the following diagrams.
The video below shows a compilation of videos and images shared by distinguished teachers in the New Curriculum Master Trainers Whatsapp group showing how the teaching and learning is going on in Senior One Classes in various schools in Uganda. The start has been good so far!
Termly Examinations and Dictation of Class Notes Discouraged
Beginning of term, midterm and end of term exams have been discouraged in the new curriculum. Instead,teachers are be doing classroom-based formative assessment. The teacher has to observe students during an activity and engage them in a conversation through questioning. The learners have to come up with projects and assignments and also make their own notes.
•The curriculum review aimed at reducing content overload, contact hours in the classroom; fostering learner centered pedagogy, competence based approach, and criterion referenced assessment. The purpose of the review is to produce a secondary school graduate with employable skills that are competitive in the job market. It is also intended to improve efficiency and effectiveness in curriculum delivery.
