Makerere sets stage for competency-based curriculum students

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Makerere University has announced its readiness to receive the first cohort of learners trained under Uganda’s competency-based curriculum (CBC), positioning itself to align higher education with the country’s evolving skills-focused learning system.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the university is not new to competency-based training, noting that Makerere began shifting towards practical, skills-oriented education more than two decades ago.

“We went competency-based about 25 years ago,” Prof. Nawangwe said, adding that the institution has progressively reoriented its programmes to emphasise practical skills, innovation and problem-solving.

He explained that the arrival of CBC-trained learners will not disrupt the university system but will instead strengthen ongoing reforms aimed at producing graduates suited for the modern job market.

Deputy vice chancellor (academic affairs) Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi said Makerere has been reviewing its curricula to ensure a seamless transition for incoming students.

“Our programmes are being aligned to match the competencies that learners are acquiring at lower levels,” Prof. Buyinza said, noting that teaching methods, assessment and course content are being continuously updated.

Uganda introduced the competency-based curriculum for lower secondary schools in 2020 through the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), marking a major shift from a knowledge-based to a skills-oriented education system.

The reform was designed to equip learners with critical thinking, communication and practical skills needed in the 21st century, addressing long-standing concerns that the previous system focused heavily on memorisation rather than the application of knowledge.

Under the new curriculum, continuous assessment contributes to learners’ final grades, with emphasis placed on project work, creativity and real-life problem-solving.

Education experts say the rollout of CBC at the secondary level is part of a broader national strategy that will eventually see the entire education system, including universities, fully aligned to competency-based learning.

At Makerere, officials say this alignment is already underway, with colleges increasingly integrating research, innovation and hands-on training into their programmes.

Prof. Nawangwe said the university is committed to supporting national education reforms and ensuring that graduates remain competitive both locally and globally.

“The future of education is about what learners can do, not just what they know,” he said.