The National Curriculum Development Centre- NCDC executive director, Grace Baguma, says as the executive wing of government, they have decided to proceed with the implementation of the new lower secondary school curriculum.
She asserted that they intend to continue with the process this term starting with senior one despite objections from members of parliament and a decision to halt the implementation.
“We have three arms of government, the Executive, the Judiciary and Legislature. We belong to the executive which is governed by the cabinet. Parliament’s role is advisory and we have taken their advice but we shall go ahead with the implementation of the curriculum,” Baguma said.
Last week members of parliament unanimously voted to halt the new curriculum in schools on grounds that it was being rushed and needed extensive consultations from all stakeholders.
This was after the Budadiri West Member of Parliament Nathan Nandala Mafabi moved a motion to halt the rollout of the new curriculum due to ill-preparedness by the Ministry of Education.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday morning, Baguma, said that MPs were not being truthful when they claimed they were not consulted before approval of the new curriculum because, in fact, they interfaced with the Education Committee throughout the entire process.
Baguma emphasized her disappointment with some MPS who she says went to the floor of parliament and claimed they were not aware or consulted on the process leaving their colleagues on the education committee to shocked and unable to defend themselves.
She wondered how funds amounting to 10 billion were released towards the program if they were not aware.
“Our budget had been cut and they said these people are reviewing the curriculum they added us 3 billion Shillings. Why did they give us the money if they didn’t know what we were doing? Let’s be fair to the children of Uganda and our education system,” she said.
According to Baguma so far they have trained 20,000 teachers from across the country and are ready to kick-start the new program. She added that they have also requested for 143 billion Shillings to facilitate them to continue with the training for the next five years.
