The Ministry of Education and Sports has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the implementation of Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) following the release of the 2025 National Assessment of Progress in Education (NAPE) report by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
The report shows that learner performance at the lower secondary level has improved compared to the previous assessment conducted in 2014, reflecting the positive impact of ongoing government investments in the education sector.
Speaking during the launch of the report, the Minister of State for Higher Education and Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo, described the findings as encouraging and called for renewed efforts to ensure full implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum before learners reach Senior Four.
Dr. Muyingo attributed the improved performance to strategic government interventions, including the recruitment of more teachers, construction of additional classrooms, and enhancement of teachers’ salaries, all aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning across the country.
The 2025 NAPE assessment marks the first national evaluation of learner achievement since the Competency-Based Curriculum was introduced in 2020 and the first lower secondary assessment in 11 years. The study assessed more than 8,000 Senior Two learners from 275 schools nationwide in Mathematics, English Language and Biology.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo said the assessment provides important evidence on how the new curriculum is influencing learning outcomes and offers stakeholders an opportunity to take timely corrective measures before learners sit their Uganda Certificate of Education examinations.
Despite the positive progress, Dr. Muyingo expressed concern about inconsistencies in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum in some schools. He noted that some institutions continue teaching beyond the recommended timelines and only begin learner project work in Senior Three instead of Senior One, contrary to curriculum guidelines.
He emphasized the need for all schools to fully comply with the curriculum framework to ensure learners acquire the practical competencies and critical thinking skills envisioned under the reforms.
According to UNEB Principal Research Officer Juma Nyal Kennedy, the assessment also identified areas requiring further attention. While overall learner achievement has improved, only 45.6 percent of learners attained the minimum proficiency level in Biology, and only 26 percent demonstrated the required listening skills in English Language.
The report further found that girls performed below boys in Mathematics and Biology, urban schools outperformed rural schools, and learners with Special Education Needs continued to experience significant challenges, particularly in Mathematics and Biology.
The Ministry of Education and Sports says the findings will guide targeted interventions to close learning gaps and improve education outcomes across the country. The Ministry has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regular national assessments to provide evidence-based data for strengthening teaching, learning and curriculum implementation.
The 2025 NAPE report is expected to play a key role in informing policy decisions and ensuring that the Competency-Based Curriculum delivers its intended goal of producing competent, skilled and innovative graduates for Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
