Uganda plans to merge national examination and curriculum development bodies

Uganda's Ministry of Education and Sports is planning a significant reform: the merger of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) into a single institution. This proposed consolidation is a key component of the upcoming Curriculum, Assessment and Admissions Bill, which President Yoweri Museveni recently identified as part of the government's legislative agenda.

Brighton Barugahare, Commissioner for Policy Analysis and Research at the Ministry of Education and Sports, explained that the merger is intended to enhance efficiency and cut costs within government entities. By combining UNEB and NCDC, the ministry aims to eradicate redundant functions and address fragmented decision-making processes that currently hinder the education sector.

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The two institutions already perform complementary roles. While NCDC is responsible for curriculum design, including teaching, learning and assessment frameworks, UNEB mainly conducts end-of-cycle national examinations.

The two bodies already engage in complementary roles. NCDC focuses on curriculum design, including frameworks for teaching, learning, and assessment, while UNEB primarily administers national examinations at the end of educational cycles. Under the proposed structure, both curriculum development and assessment functions would continue but under one unified institution, featuring distinct directorates for each mandate. Barugahare emphasized that this integration would improve coordination and reduce fragmentation in planning and decision-making.

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these are just complementary functions and bringing them under one institution will improve coordination and reduce fragmentation in planning and decision-making.

This move aligns with international practices where curriculum development and assessment are often managed by the same entity. Uganda's adoption of a Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) further strengthens the case for integration, as assessment is now woven throughout the teaching and learning process, rather than being solely concentrated on final exams. The ministry also noted overlapping governance structures and cross-membership on the boards of both UNEB and NCDC, suggesting a natural progression toward integration.

The proposal echoes recommendations from the Amanya Mushega-led Education Policy Review Commission, which advocated for the creation of a National Curriculum and Assessment Authority by merging existing bodies. The commission's report specifically recommended merging all curriculum and assessment bodies under basic and advanced education levels into a single entity with directorates for curriculum and assessment frameworks.

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Assessment is no longer only about what happens at the end of the cycle. Schools conduct continuous assessment on a daily basis and these processes require coherent guidance linked directly to curriculum development.