Students have decried the high costs of study materials under the new curriculum.
The students say the New Competence-based Curriculum (NCC) projects, which are examinable by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), are “too demanding” as they involve buying raw materials for use.
The students, some of whom are currently attending a six-day agricultural education exhibition at the Jinja showground, say the curriculum adds an extra fee to the dues paid by their parents.
The students have now called upon the government, through the line ministry, to fully fund learning materials under the new curriculum, adding that the high cost of implementing the curriculum has forced them to offer subjects that are “less expensive”.
Jenipher Namwase, a Senior Three student at Iganga Secondary School, said she decided to do horticulture because other subjects were “too expensive”.
Jasmine Wabibye, a Senior Three student at the same school, says she is doing interior designs which involves buying colours, buckets of paint, gloves, overalls, and threads, among others.
Elizabeth Namwano, a Senior Three student pursuing Bakery, says equipment like ovens are very costly.
The new curriculum focuses on generic skills, including critical thinking, creativity, innovation, digital, literacy, numeracy, communication, problem-solving, collaboration and self-directed learning.
