Sneak peek into abridged A-Level curriculum

The Ministry of Education spokesperson, Dr Denis Mugimba, on Thursday said: “The abridged A-level curriculum is ready and we are to begin training teachers in the next two weeks.” 

“Most teachers already know because a number of them were training and are adapting to the same teaching methodology. The syllabus is ready, but there will be no textbooks and the learners are aware,” he added. 

Last November, the government carried out a review of all A-Level subjects to create an abridged curriculum for the first cohort of Senior Four candidates now set to join Senior Five under the competency-based curriculum. 

The government abandoned an earlier proposed A-Level curriculum it developed two years ago, saying it lacked the time and resources to fully overhaul the curriculum, retool teachers, develop textbooks, and prepare instructional materials for competence-based students. 

The ministry then opted for a stop-gap measure, reviewing all A-Level subjects to create an abridged curriculum for the new Senior Five students. 

Blending old and new

Dr Mugimba said under the abridged curriculum, they would keep the subjects at 29, but with reduced content. He also said they have removed what is deemed obsolete, repetitive or overlapping. 

“The old O-Level curriculum informed the current curriculum yet the old curriculum had some content which was removed and put in the abridged curriculum. So, such similar content will be removed.

“We have also introduced values, generic skills, and competencies so that when any topic is delivered, the teachers should know what competencies they are imparting to the students. The assessment system is also going to change to align with the competence-based curriculum,” Dr Mugimba further explained. 

Dr Mugimba added: “We have also introduced project-based learning as was done at O-Level, there are fewer teachers than the bulk of those manning the O-Level curriculum. As we roll out in two weeks, we shall have a smaller number of teachers to be oriented towards this abridged A-level curriculum.” 

In an interview with this newspaper last month, Dr Mugimba said the changes being effected by National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) aimed at making A-Level learning competence-based and be well-aligned with the new Lower Secondary Curriculum. 

“Another major point in the review is the methodologies used by teachers during content delivery. The subjects and the selection of the combination have remained as they have been; so, we believe that it will relieve teachers of outdated content and make higher secondary learning more focused,” he said last month. 

The latest revelation from Dr Mugimba restores confidence among educationists, parents and learners who were doubting its readiness, and also comes as immense relief to teachers and head teachers who were enduring challenges ahead of the transition, citing unavailability of teaching and learning materials. 

Rollout starts

Mr David Mangeni Sidialo, the headmaster of Majansi High School in Tororo District, said the roll out of the new A-level curriculum was underway, and that two weeks ago, all the headmasters had an online training session on its implementation. 

Mr Sidialo said during the training which was conducted by the NCDC, they were told that subject combinations would remain as was the case with the old curriculum. 

“We were told that the mode of teaching was to change as the curriculum seeks to bring out the best competencies of learners. 

“The subject combinations, as has been with the previous curriculum, would remain unchanged, while emphasis will now be on helping learners deal with the current socio-economic demands,” Mr Sidialo said. 

Mr Geoffrey Arasa, the director of studies at Busia Secondary School, said teachers were yet to be trained on the implementation of the abridged A-Level curriculum. He said they had missed the training for school heads which was conducted by the NCDC. 

Mr Arasa, a teacher of Mathematics, said he doesn’t expect any major changes in the subjects they have been teaching and only thinks the teaching methodology may change. 

“This (abridged A-level curriculum) will require bringing out competencies among learners other than the previous curriculum that emphasised knowledgeability,” Mr Arasa, said. 

He added that the new curriculum would seek to reinforce continuous assessments of the learners. 

Mr Stuart Sserugo, the Busia S.S. focal teacher for the Lower Secondary School Curriculum, said the new curriculum is a shift from the knowledge-based teaching to bringing out competencies among the learners. 

“The A-level curriculum being rolled out seeks to focus on what learners can do and not what they know, and that is what makes it different from the old curriculum. Despite teachers not having been trained yet, they should be able to adapt and help the learners,” he said. 

But Mr Sserugo urged the Ministry of Education to employ the cascade model of implementation, where a section of teachers are trained so that they become trainers of other teachers. 

“The ministry will soon provide online and printed learning materials to help roll out the new curriculum,” said Mr Sserugo. 

Mr Fred Wabwire, the director of studies at Busia Trust S.S. said all the teachers and school headmistress had attended the online training organised by the NCDC, which he said was a “positive development” ahead of the roll out of the new curriculum. 

Mr Hasadu Kirabira, the chairperson of the National Private Education Institution Association (NPEIA), earlier faulted the ministry for allegedly delaying sharing the changes with stakeholders. He said the government had learnt nothing from the hurdles faced in introducing the new Lower Secondary Curriculum. 

Dr Gideon Nkurunziza, a senior lecturer and head of the Education Department at Makerere University Business School, said the abridged A-Level curriculum focuses on holistically developing a learner’s competencies in terms of knowledge, practical skills, and acceptable behaviours, and values. 

“It is a learner-centred curriculum that bridges the gap between theory and practice by preparing the finalists who can contribute to the tax base of our economy, solve societal problems in a diversity of contexts and develop a right workforce that fits in the world of work,” he said. 

Dr Nkurunziza said there are concerns among educationists regarding tight schedules, inadequate teacher training, and inadequate learning materials that fit the curriculum implementation. 

“There is a need to retool teachers, enhance continuous professional development, and strengthen the mindset change for the public, policymakers, and practitioners.”