The implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) and the teaching of African languages in schools in Uganda: A case of Luganda language
Authors: Masembe Edward , Masaazi Fred Masagazi , Mukasa Jackson Kizza 
Published: July 2024

In 2021, Uganda implemented a new curriculum in the lower secondary known as the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). This is principally a learner-centered curriculum aimed at developing the learner’s competencies. This curriculum enables the learner to complete a particular education cycle having acquired self-reliance skills. If this curriculum is implemented well while teaching African languages, it would significantly assist the learners in developing their skills in listening, speaking, writing and reading the African languages including Luganda. However, whereas the government of Uganda rolled out this curriculum (CBC) and went ahead to print and provide books for all subjects to be used during its implementation, the African languages were left out. Therefore, this study intended to analyse how the teachers teach Luganda (one of the African languages) without the basic CBC materials like the teachers’ and learners’ guides, the challenges they meet and how they can overcome those challenges. The researchers used a descriptive survey design for this study. Data were collected using two methods; focused group discussions and observations. According to the study findings, the Luganda teachers have tried to implement the competency-based curriculum using only the CBC local languages framework (curriculum) which is in English, while teaching Luganda. Most of them were not fully trained in the CBC. For the CBC basic materials, most of them are just improvising by getting those written by private authors and not approved by the government. We recommend that in order for the teachers to be able to teach the African languages well in the competency-based curriculum, they should be trained in their languages, they should be provided with teaching/learning materials, and the African languages should be given prominence in the competency-based curriculum. If this is not done, our African languages are endangered. Ekifunze Uganda, mu mwaka gwa 2021, yassa mu nkola ensomesa empya esinziira ku busobozi n’okwenyigiramu kw’omuyizi (CBC). Ensomesa eno egenderera okuteeka omuyizi mu kifo ky’okwenyigiramu ennyo mu bisomesebwa, okusobola okutumbula obusobozi obuli mu ye. Kino kiyamba omuyizi okufuluma ku mutendera ogumu mu byenjigiriza nga alina ky’asobola okwekolera. Ennambika eno singa eba etuukiriziddwa bulungi nga tusomesa ennimi Enfirika, eyamba nnyo abayizi okukulaakulanya obusobozi bwabwe obw’okuwuliriza, okwogera, okuwandiika wamu n’okusoma bwino w’ennimi Enfirika, nga n’OLuganda mw’olutwalidde. Kyokka, newankubadde nga gavumenti yateekawo ennambika eno empya (CBC) era n’ekuba n’ebitabo by’amasomo amalala eby’okweyambisa mu kugissa mu nkola, ennimi Enfirika ezisomesebwa mu Uganda tezaafuna bikozesebwa nga ebyo. N’olwekyo, okunoonyereza kuno kwaluubirira okwekenneenya engeri abasomesa gye basomesaamu OLuganda (olumu ku nnimi Enfirika) nga tebafunye byeyambisibwa, okusoomoozebwa kwe basanga, n’engeri gye bayinza okukuvvuunuka. Tweyambisa enkola eya nnakanyonnyozi okutaputa ebyo bye twazuula. Ebiwe twabikungaanya nga tweyambisa enkola y’okukubaganya ebirowoozo, wamu n’okulaba ebigenda mu maaso. Ebyazuulibwa biraga nti abasomesa b’OLuganda bafubye okusomesa OLuganda mu nnambika empya eya CBC. Kyokka, bangi beeyiiya bweyiiya, olw’obutabaawo bitabo byayisibwa gavumenti. Abanoonyereza bawa amagezi nti, okusobola okusomesa obulungi ennmi Enfirika mu nkola eya CBC, abasomesa batendekebwe mu nnimi zaabwe, baweebwe ebikozesebwa ate n’ennimi Enfirika ziweebwe ekifo eky’enkalakkalira mu nkola eno. Singa kino tekiikolebwe, ennimi zaffe Enfirika ziri mu katyabaga.