The Chief Executive Officer of Accelerated Education Enterprises (AEE), Graham Yoko, has called on the Ugandan government to adopt the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum.
Yoko, a South African-based educationist and overseer of the ACE curriculum in Africa, emphasized its benefits during a public lecture at Uganda Christian University (UCU) on Wednesday.
The event, organized under the theme “The Hidden Curriculum: Inescapable Biases in the Education Curricula,” attracted various education stakeholders.
Yoko argued that a biblically-based curriculum provides a consistent framework for moral and ethical development, supporting the holistic growth of learners.
“It emphasizes the holistic development of individuals, promotes personal and social responsibility, and counters cultural relativism, building strong communities,” he noted.
He also addressed the concept of curriculum neutrality, dismissing it as a myth.
“The idea of a neutral curriculum is a myth! There’s no such thing as a neutral education curriculum. It is always biased, either positively or negatively. Every curriculum is shaped by underlying biases that reflect the values and assumptions of the designer,” Yoko stated, adding, “Education without God makes man a clever devil.”
The ACE program, designed for self-instruction, covers all educational stages from kindergarten to secondary levels, including core subjects such as mathematics, English, science, social studies, and Bible studies, along with elective subjects like business studies.
Despite its growing popularity, with over 50 schools in Uganda currently using the ACE curriculum, participants at the lecture raised concerns over delays in accessing study materials.
In response, Yoko assured attendees that arrangements were underway to establish a distribution center in Kampala to streamline access, replacing the current system where materials are shipped directly from South Africa.
To further enhance the program’s reach, AEE has partnered with UCU to develop a degree program for teachers who instruct learners using the ACE framework.
Rev. Dr. John Kitayimbwa, UCU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics, revealed that the curriculum is set to be submitted to the National Council for Higher Education for approval by December.
“We expect to have our first admission in September next year. We are also in the process of creating a program examination board to offer certificates and, if we work together with the government, we shall examine students not only from Uganda, enabling teachers to teach in the ACE framework,” he said.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Alfred Olwa, Chairperson of the UCU University Council, highlighted the need for learners to acquire comprehensive skills in a changing global environment.
Similarly, Prof. Lawrence Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, underscored the importance of incorporating Christian values in education.
“Majority have ended up graduating but not getting employed, ask yourself why? Values were something not taught. Today, technology is better than us when it comes to knowledge, so who is going to cater for what is hidden, and hidden is what is required… What harm does Christianity bring when grounded in the curriculum?” Muganga questioned.
The Director of the Directorate of Education Standards at the Ministry of Education, Mary Frances Atima, noted that an in-depth understanding of the ACE curriculum was essential before its potential integration into Uganda’s basic education system.
“If we cannot appreciate values, what types of education are we offering, and if children at lower levels cannot appreciate values when they are adults?” she asked, highlighting the importance of instilling core values from an early age.
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