KAMPALA — The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) will next week convene the second International Conference on Curriculum Development, bringing together education experts, researchers and practitioners from Uganda and beyond to discuss how curricula can respond to technological, environmental and economic changes.
The two-day conference will be held on Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21, 2026, at Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, under the theme “Innovative Curriculum Approaches for Sustainable Education in a Globalised World.”
Speaking at a press conference at the NCDC headquarters in Kyambogo on Sunday, NCDC Council Chairperson Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru said curriculum development is central to Uganda’s social and economic transformation.
“Curriculum is central to national development. Curriculum development is not simply an education matter; it is fundamental to society’s social and economic transformation,” Openjuru said.
He said the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes developed through education ultimately determine the quality of Uganda’s future workforce, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders.
“Our curricula must therefore remain relevant to the aspirations of Uganda and be responsive to changes taking place globally,” he added.
The conference follows the inaugural International Conference on Curriculum Development held in 2023 at Speke Resort and Convention Centre.
Focus on technology, climate change and indigenous knowledge
NCDC Deputy Director and Chairperson of the conference organising committee, Dr Richard Irumba, said the conference comes at a time when education systems are being challenged to adapt rapidly to developments in technology, artificial intelligence and climate change.
He said the discussions will seek to rethink both curriculum design and delivery in order to build a resilient, inclusive and future-ready education system.
The conference’s sub-themes include the integration of ICT and artificial intelligence in education, sustainability and global citizenship, interdisciplinary approaches to curriculum development, preservation of indigenous knowledge systems and localisation of curricula.
Other areas include competency-based education and entrepreneurship, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), climate-change education, the green economy and green jobs, inclusive education, teacher training, instructional materials and early childhood care and education.
“This theme is timely and urgent. We are living in an era where education must evolve rapidly to meet the demands of the 21st century, including advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, the challenge of climate change, and the shifting expectations of learners and societies alike,” Irumba said.
77 papers selected from 130 submissions
Irumba said the conference has attracted strong international interest, with organisers receiving 130 research papers, of which 77 were accepted after a double-blind peer-review and quality-assurance process.
The papers were submitted by researchers, educators and practitioners from more than 11 countries.
More than 700 delegates have also confirmed attendance, either physically or online, according to the organisers.
The programme will feature keynote addresses from education experts from the United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Uganda, alongside panel discussions, poster presentations, exhibitions, breakout sessions and networking opportunities.
The organisers said the conference will also provide opportunities to strengthen partnerships and promote Uganda as a destination for educational and conference tourism.
NCDC defends competency-based curriculum
Acting NCDC Director Dr Patrice Ssembirige said the conference will also provide an opportunity to assess Uganda’s curriculum reforms, particularly the competency-based curriculum introduced at lower secondary level.
Ssembirige said NCDC’s mandate includes developing and reviewing curricula and instructional materials, as well as supporting implementation through teacher training, educational research, evaluation and quality assurance.
He said the revised curriculum, rolled out in 2022, shifted the focus of education from simply reproducing information to developing learners’ ability to apply knowledge.
“The success of the competency-based curriculum will not simply be measured by how much content a learner can reproduce, but by what the learner can do with what they have learned,” Ssembirige said.
He said Uganda needs learners capable of critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, collaboration, innovation and adaptation to change.
“Competency-based education is therefore not simply a change in the curriculum. It is a change in the kind of person we are preparing for the future,” he said.
Ssembirige said NCDC has also undertaken a comprehensive review at lower secondary level and developed a new curriculum framework and instructional materials.
At the advanced level, he said, the Centre has undertaken a review aimed at strengthening the competency-based approach and facilitating a smooth transition from lower secondary to advanced secondary education.
NCDC has also adapted learning materials and support systems for learners with special educational needs, with the aim of improving access, participation and learning.
Curriculum to support national development
Openjuru said the work of NCDC is aligned with Objective Two of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which seeks to enhance human capital development across the entire life cycle.
He said the international conference would help generate evidence, practical recommendations and partnerships to strengthen curriculum development and implementation.
“As the NCDC Council, we remain committed to providing strategic oversight and institutional support necessary to fulfil its national mandate,” Openjuru said.
He urged stakeholders to use the conference to share research, experiences and ideas that can inform Uganda’s education strategies.
