Competency-based lower secondary in Uganda and Rwanda: practical science for all
Rwanda introduced a competence-based curriculum in 2015, and Uganda rolled out a new competency-based lower secondary curriculum from 2020. Both shift teaching from memorising facts to applying knowledge through activities, projects and practical work.
What changes in the classroom
- Learners do more activities and investigations.
- Assessment includes projects and activities of integration.
- Teachers act as facilitators rather than lecturers.
Where virtual labs fit
Activities and projects need resources. Virtual labs give learners a safe, repeatable space to investigate:
- measure, compare and explain in physics;
- test substances in chemistry;
- model systems and design solutions in technology subjects.
An activity of integration
Scenario: a village wants to keep vaccines cool without reliable electricity. Learners:
- investigate heat transfer in the gases lab;
- design a simple insulated box;
- present their solution with evidence.
ICT integration
Rwanda's investment in ICT in schools and smart classrooms makes browser-based labs a natural fit. In Uganda, schools with computer labs can timetable science sessions alongside ICT.
Teacher support
New curricula ask a lot of teachers. Start small: one virtual activity per topic. Share worksheets with colleagues so the work is spread.
Create a free account and plan your first activity.