Policy Briefs
From Rollout to Refinement: Emerging Issues in the Implementation of Uganda’s Revised Lower Secondary Curriculum
Uganda’s competency-based curriculum (CBC), introduced in 2020, represents a significant shift towards a learner-centered approach designed to equip students with skills relevant to the 21st century. While the reform has been widely welcomed, its implementation has faced numerous challenges. In 2024, the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) conducted a mini survey to assess early implementation experiences.
The survey revealed gaps in teacher training, misalignment in assessment practices, inadequate integration of information and communications technology (ICT), resource shortages, and low parental engagement. To track progress and identify new trends, EPRC conducted a follow-up Mini survey in 2025. The findings show notable progress in teacher acceptance of the curriculum, growth in student-led income-generating projects, and increased use of training initiatives within schools.
However, challenges remain in assessment alignment, ICT access, funding, and inclusion. Emerging challenges include overcrowding, leading to a high student-teacher ratio, and the withdrawal of government support of grant aid to some schools. To realize the CBC’s objective, policymakers must prioritize teacher training, harmonize the curriculum and assessment guidelines, address funding shortfalls, and strengthen ICT infrastructure.
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- Published Nov 26, 2025