President Museveni’s latest statements about the competence-based curriculum, made during Kyambogo College’s platinum jubilee celebration, epitomize his chronic tendency for empty rhetoric and grandstanding. Despite his glowing endorsements of the curriculum and his call for head teachers to fully implement it, his words starkly contrast with the abysmal reality of Uganda’s educational crisis.
The competence-based curriculum, launched in 2020, was hailed as a revolutionary shift towards practical learning. Yet, in reality, this initiative has been a monumental failure, crippled by systemic flaws and egregious underfunding. Museveni’s insipid calls to “monitor its implementation fully” do nothing to address the glaring fact that schools are starved of the resources necessary for effective execution. The Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) has rightly highlighted the dismal state of teacher training, with fewer than half having received the requisite assessment training. This gross negligence severely undermines the curriculum’s objectives, a critical issue that Museveni’s superficial comments completely ignore.
Museveni’s token contribution of Shs20 million towards Kyambogo College’s science complex is nothing more than a pathetic drop in the ocean compared to the Shs6 billion required for the project. This paltry gesture only underscores his administration’s consistent failure to provide substantive financial backing for education. Kyambogo College, a supposedly prestigious institution, is mired in resource shortages, reflecting a broader pattern of systemic neglect affecting schools nationwide.
The President’s hollow claims that the curriculum is on the “right track” and that students are demonstrating “innovation” are absurdly disconnected from the harsh realities faced by underfunded schools and inadequately trained teachers. His blatant disregard for these critical issues is a testament to his incompetence and detachment from genuine governance. The focus on foreign language instruction and the celebration of the school’s past achievements are inconsequential when weighed against the pressing educational deficiencies that persist under his rule.
Furthermore, Museveni’s penchant for ceremonial gestures and grand speeches, rather than implementing tangible solutions, highlights a leadership style entrenched in superficiality rather than substance. The presence of royals and high-ranking officials at these events only serves to magnify the chasm between the political elite and the struggles of ordinary Ugandans.
Museveni’s empty promises and superficial engagements with the competence-based curriculum are clear evidence of a regime more interested in maintaining a façade of progress than addressing the fundamental issues plaguing Uganda’s education sector. His ineffectual leadership continues to deepen the crisis, leaving the education system in a state of disrepair under his corrupt and ineffective governance.
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