Govt retools Science teachers, lab technicians in Ankole sub-region
"The training seeks to equip science teachers and laboratory technicians with the vital skills needed to manage laboratory equipment," Kisakye said. "This will ultimately build the capacity of schools to effectively implement practical science education."
Juliet Kisakye, the head of STEPD and Prototype Development Officer at NCDC, says that the curriculum addresses critical operational gaps in schools. The training covers personal safety, equipment storage, repair and maintenance, the proper disposal of laboratory waste, and emergency first aid. (Credit: Fred Turyakira)
MBARARA - Government, through the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), has launched a comprehensive training program for science teachers and laboratory technicians in the Ankole sub-region to bolster practical science education.
The intensive five-day workshop, which commenced on Monday, September 7, 2026, is being held at Mbarara High School in Mbarara City.
The initiative is organised by the Science and Technology Equipment Production Department (STEPD), an arm of the NCDC dedicated to manufacturing, servicing, and repairing school science apparatus.
Juliet Kisakye, the head of STEPD and Prototype Development Officer at NCDC, says that the curriculum addresses critical operational gaps in schools. The training covers personal safety, equipment storage, repair and maintenance, the proper disposal of laboratory waste, and emergency first aid.
"The training seeks to equip science teachers and laboratory technicians with the vital skills needed to manage laboratory equipment," Kisakye said. "This will ultimately build the capacity of schools to effectively implement practical science education."
"This training is to skill them in the proper use, care, and maintenance of laboratory equipment," Kisakye explained.
"If these tools are not properly used, errors happen along the way, and learners will not get the expected results from their experiments. Many times, equipment is neglected in schools, causing significant financial loss. We are skilling them to increase the lifespan of these instruments."
Teachers and laboratory attendants hailed the NCDC for the initiative, noting that laboratory management has long been a challenge for many institutions.
Behayo Phillip, a science teacher at Kibubura Girls’ Secondary School in Ibanda, said the training updates their skills and helps them avoid mistakes during practical lessons. He also appealed to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to intervene in schools.
“We have challenges with laboratory management where some chemicals deteriorate and sit undisposed, posing an environmental and safety danger. NEMA needs to train us on how to dispose of these dangerous chemicals properly without harming the environment,” Behayo appealed.
“You buy stopwatches today; a student uses them once, and they stop working. Even if you repair them a hundred times, they still fail. It is the same with chemicals. This drains schools financially and hurts students' results during practical exams,” Ikiiriza said.
She also urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to consider health allowances for laboratory technicians, noting they spend long hours handling hazardous substances.
In response to the counterfeit challenge, Kisakye advised technicians to always validate their supplies.
“We emphasise the validation of materials. When you buy a chemical, test it in the laboratory before giving it to the learners to ensure it is genuine and yields the expected results.
This helps identify items with technical issues,” Kisakye advised, while also stressing the importance of proper storage.
The Mbarara workshop is part of a broader nationwide rollout. Over the last two years, the NCDC has conducted similar capacity-building sessions across the Northern, Rwenzori, Eastern, and Greater Masaka regions.