Schools to showcase student skills aligned with SDGs

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Uganda is set to roll out a new initiative aimed at helping schools showcase students’ skills aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The programme integrates SDG themes into the school curriculum, encourages student-led projects, and promotes the practical application of knowledge—empowering learners to become active agents of change in their communities.

According to Linda Asaba of the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU), the initiative—being implemented with support from the UN Association of Finland—seeks to leave no one behind, particularly in a country like Uganda with one of the world’s youngest populations.

“We are giving young people a platform to show us what they’ve done to help accelerate progress toward the SDGs,” Asaba said during the programme launch at Caltec Academy School in Makerere on Friday.

“We encourage them to use local resources from their communities—especially their schools—to address issues related to the SDGs. In this pilot phase, we’re focusing on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).”

She noted that each participating school would have an opportunity to present practical projects they have implemented, rather than theoretical concepts from textbooks.

“These are hands-on solutions developed by the students themselves. We want them to take ownership of the SDGs—not see them as government responsibilities but as community challenges they can solve,” Asaba explained.

She emphasised that such an approach not only enhances learning but also nurtures self-reliance and civic responsibility. “We want young people to realize that solutions lie within them, and they can act on them now. If we continue on this path, we’ll see greater impact in accelerating the attainment of the SDGs.”

Asaba highlighted that the initiative is aligned with Uganda’s new competence-based curriculum, which encourages learners to use locally available materials to solve real-world problems. “This isn’t just a UNAU initiative. It contributes directly to students’ academic performance, character development, and ultimately, their future careers,” she said.

Some of the student-led projects under the programme address issues like water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and mental health awareness. Asaba noted that emotional and psychological challenges young people face at home often spill into their school life and even their future workplaces.

“Through this programme, students are encouraged to engage with peers, teachers, and community members, creating open channels of communication. That’s a key part of SDG 3,” she said. “Not all young people will get the chance to speak in parliament, but through their schools, they can still make their voices heard and spotlight local issues.”

Uganda adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, joining 192 other countries in a global effort to create a more equitable and sustainable world by 2030. The SDGs build upon the earlier Millennium Development Goals and represent a comprehensive framework of 17 global targets.

According to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the SDG Centre for Africa, Uganda is currently more than halfway toward achieving the goals. With an overall performance score of 54.88—above the African regional average of 52.7—Uganda ranks 18th out of 52 African countries in SDG progress.