LDC gets new curriculum

By Andrew Ssenyonga

Starting September 2014, students at the Law Development Centre (LDC) will be subjected to a new curriculum with emphasis on practical rather than theoretical learning.

The shift will necessitate a sweeping revision away from a strictly academic list of subjects to a framework of competencies that are woven across and delivered through manageable subjects.

This is a part of the education reforms the LDC is undertaking.

According to the LDC Director, Frank Othembi, the content of the current curriculum will be repackaged to match with the changing needs of the society.

“The move is also targeting to mitigate the problem of high failure rates that has been seen at the centre in the past. We want to make subjects manageable to the students and also faze away those that are irrelevant,” Othembi said.

He added that the centre is also planning to make some subjects optional to give their clients space to make choices of their interests.

“Consultations on the matter have been done with the necessary stakeholders such as the deans of faculties in different universities that offer law, law society fraternity and the general public.

The new curriculum will therefore start the next academic year in September 2014-15,” he explained.

Othembi revealed this during the 41st graduation of the centre held at LDC in Kampala on Friday which saw a total of 505 graduands receive their certificates and diplomas in legal matters.

Out of the 505 graduands, 210 were female and the rest being male with Prosicovia Nassanga who graduated with a diploma in legal practice emerging the overall best students at the centre.