In a plenary sitting on Thursday, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu, the Member of Parliament for Kalungu West County, expressed concern over the lack of learning materials in secondary schools following the introduction of the new curriculum in February 2020. He urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to take immediate action and provide schools with the necessary materials aligned with the updated curriculum.
During the session, Ssewungu highlighted that several secondary schools were still using outdated materials to teach the new curriculum. He reminded his colleagues in the House that they had previously debated the issue extensively and even called for a temporary halt to the implementation until sufficient funding was secured.
Ssewungu further criticized the situation where some individuals were selling the required books at exorbitant prices, making it unaffordable for many students and their families. He questioned why the government had failed to procure the necessary learning materials and demanded clarity from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The MP emphasized that the lack of learning materials would significantly affect the performance of students, particularly those enrolled in Universal Secondary School (USE). He warned that the National Curriculum Development Centre and the National Examination Boards would assess students based on the new curriculum, potentially disadvantaging USE schools without access to the required resources.
In response to the concerns raised by Hon. Ssewungu, Hon. Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), acknowledged the challenges faced by the ministry. He disclosed that despite their request for funds to support the purchase of learning materials, they were denied the necessary resources. Ogwang promised to present a formal statement addressing the issue for further debate.
Speaker Anita Among voiced her astonishment at how the government introduced a new curriculum without ensuring the provision of essential learning materials. She pressed the minister to disclose how many schools had actually received the required books, expressing her skepticism about the curriculum’s implementation without adequate resources.
Additionally, Hon. Laura Kanushu (NRM, PWD) urged the minister to submit a report on the consistently poor performance of learners with disabilities across the country. She also requested an update on the alleged eviction of students from the school for the deaf in Mbale District.
The call for action from Hon. Ssewungu and the concerns raised by other members of parliament highlight the urgency of ensuring that schools are equipped with appropriate learning materials to support the successful implementation of the new curriculum.
