Mrs Museveni Urges Schools to Harness Potentials of Competence-Based Curriculum

Speaking at the commissioning of new infrastructure projects at Ruhama Secondary School in Ntungamo District, Mrs Museveni urged communities to leverage their creativity, compassion, and resourcefulness to drive transformative change, rather than relying solely on government intervention.

The Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, has highlighted the importance of a competence-based curriculum, emphasising its role in fostering skills that extend beyond traditional academic achievement.

Speaking at the commissioning of new infrastructure projects at Ruhama Secondary School in Ntungamo District, Mrs Museveni urged communities to leverage their creativity, compassion, and resourcefulness to drive transformative change, rather than relying solely on government intervention.

The event marked a significant milestone for Ruhama Secondary School, as authorities, parents, students, and the local community came together to officially launch newly constructed Ugift buildings.

The modern facilities include a spacious multipurpose hall, six modern classroom blocks, and a fully equipped computer laboratory.

Additionally, Tororo Cement made notable contributions to the school’s infrastructure, donating three staff quota houses, a science laboratory, and sanitary facilities to improve the learning environment.

During her address, Mrs Museveni also stressed the importance of proper nutrition for students, warning parents against sending children to school without food.

The First Lady urged them to pack lunch for their children to prevent poor performance due to hunger.

“To the parents and guardians, I call upon you to support the education of your children, ensure they attend school regularly, provide necessary scholastic materials, and most importantly, a meal for their child while at school,” she said.

“This is a recurring issue I’ve addressed—sending children to school without packed lunch affects their ability to focus and learn effectively.”

She further suggested that if the situation persists, one solution could be to shorten the school day, allowing students to return home to eat.

"The government is exploring ways to address child nutrition, but if we can't provide meals, we may consider a half-day school schedule so that students can go home to eat,” Museveni added.

The Minister reiterated that the responsibility for education is shared between the government and parents.

"The government is responsible for infrastructure, teachers' salaries, and textbooks, while parents should ensure their children are fed, have uniforms, and are supported in their education," she noted.

The commissioning ceremony also provided an opportunity to address challenges faced by the school, particularly overcrowding due to the increasing number of students.

Headteacher Nicholas Tumutoreine expressed relief that the new facilities would ease the pressure on classrooms.

“Now, there will be no complaints about congestion in classrooms,” he remarked.

Local authorities also took the chance to request additional seed schools in four sub-counties that currently lack government-aided secondary schools, as well as electricity in areas without access.

Henry Zinkuratire, MP for Ruhama County, stressed that it is a government policy for every subcounty to have at least one government-aided school.

Mrs Museveni also emphasized the importance of the competence-based curriculum, which aims to equip students with practical skills in addition to academic knowledge.

“Education is about more than just studying from books. Our children should be able to learn with their minds, hearts, and hands,” she said.

“Competence-based education ensures that our children are prepared to contribute meaningfully to society. Let their hands know what to do.”

In her closing remarks, the Minister urged everyone to embrace this approach to education, underscoring that it is not solely the government's responsibility to shape the future of the youth.

“Let’s all be competent and encourage everyone to contribute to their own success and the success of our communities,” she concluded.

The commissioning of new facilities and the focus on the competence-based curriculum reflect Uganda's continued commitment to improving education and providing students with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.