Uganda is undertaking a major transformation of its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, shifting the focus from predominantly classroom-based instruction to practical, specialised and industry-driven skills intended to prepare young people for the changing world of work.
At the centre of the reform is a new approach where 70% of training will focus on practical competencies and 30% on theory, alongside the integration of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The changes were highlighted during an orientation workshop for TVET trainers held at Nakawa Vocational Training College in Kampala, where trainers were being prepared to implement the newly approved curricula.
The orientation, organised by the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), marks an important step in the implementation of 17 newly developed programmes in mechanical, electrical, civil engineering and ICT.
Speaking at the event, Jalia Nassaza, UVTAB Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Curriculum Development and Management, said the programmes are designed to respond directly to skills demanded by employers and the wider economy.
“The reforms represent a departure from broad traditional programmes towards more specialised areas of training. Mechanical Engineering, for example, is being broken down into areas including Mechatronics and Heavy and Light Automotive Technology, while Civil Engineering is being specialised into areas such as Bridges and Roads Technology.”
She noted that the curricula have been developed through consultations with employers, industry practitioners and Sector Skills Expert Committees to ensure that what is taught reflects actual workplace requirements, technological developments, safety standards and emerging trends.
“The objective is to ensure that a graduate leaves a TVET institution with more than a qualification on paper, but with demonstrable skills that can be applied in a workplace or used to establish an enterprise.”
The reform is also changing the way TVET trainers teach, and learners are assessed. Instead of a trainer-centred model that places greater emphasis on classroom instruction, the new approach promotes competency-based and learner-centred training, with greater attention to practical skills, problem-solving, innovation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
The practical orientation is expected to be supported through closer collaboration between training institutions and industry.
Institutions are also being encouraged to embrace “training with production”, where learners use materials during training to produce goods that can be sold, generating income to support further practical training.
The reforms are being implemented within the framework of the TVET Policy 2019 and the TVET Act 2025, which place emphasis on competency-based, industry-led training and stronger links between skills development and labour-market requirements.
The reforms also come as Uganda seeks to strengthen its human capital under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which places skills development and productivity at the centre of the country’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
UVTAB has already completed a number of diploma programmes, with 17 approved and ready for implementation, while additional programmes are undergoing review.