New curriculum training reaches 140 secondary teachers in Mbarara

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A total of 140 secondary school teachers from Nyamitanga and Kibona parishes in Mbarara Archdiocese have received training to implement the new competency-based curriculum, which emphasises practical skills over rote memorisation.

The training, organised by the Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA), ended on September 20, 2025, at St Joseph’s Vocational School in Mbarara City South Division.

The new curriculum is learner-centred and competency-based, shifting focus from memorisation to the development of practical skills, critical thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations.

Speaking to journalists, Stellah Kibuka Kyosimire, the coordinator of the AMDA education council and its treasurer, said teachers were mobilised from 11 schools in the Nyamitanga region, regardless of religious affiliation. 

“We have Muslim schools, Protestant schools and Catholic schools; they are all here attending the training,” Kyosimire explained.

The teachers were trained in seven core subjects: mathematics, English, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, and history and political education.

Owen Mugume, the chairman of the AMDA education council, explained that the training was designed to back up the government’s initiative to equip teachers with the skills needed to implement the new curriculum in their schools.

“We have come as AMDA to support the government, the government has limited resources, and it is facing a challenge in training all the teachers in implementation of the new curriculum, and the AMDA education council identified that gap and we came in to fill it,” Kyosimire added.

Some of the teachers praised AMDA for the initiative, saying it had helped them learn how to assess learners.

“We are happy to be part of AMDA training; it has helped us to learn to assess learners. Some people may not have had a chance going to UNEB to learn to assess learners, but with the coming of this training, we are now well equipped,” said Alex Rutaremwa, a teacher from St Joseph’s Vocational School, Mbarara.

Annet Atukunda Tumwebaze, advisor of the AMDA education council, said the training formed part of this year’s AMDA Caravan, which took place in August. 

She commended teachers for their active participation and challenged them to use the acquired skills to shape the learning environment in their schools.