The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) has released a new handbook to help teachers use games to improve classroom engagement.
This innovative guide targets pre-primary and lower primary educators across Uganda. It aims to strengthen the acquisition of skills through the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). This curriculum requires learners to take an active role in their own education.
The handbook provides practical strategies to structure games that support key learning goals. It builds upon existing play-based methods already used in early childhood education. The design ensures that all learners remain included regardless of their school's resources.
Teachers in digital-enabled schools can use computers to track student progress through gamified lessons. Conversely, those in low-resource settings can utilize charts and scoreboards to monitor development.
Joyce Nansubuga, the Acting Manager for Pedagogy and Innovations at the National Curriculum Development Centre, stated that the role of the teacher is shifting. She noted that educators must now act more as facilitators than traditional instructors.
“A learner who progresses more slowly is allowed to remain at a particular level until they acquire the required skill,” Nansubuga said.
This method allows teachers to account for individual performance and demonstrate clear progress. Educators are encouraged to use rewards like stars and badges to motivate students.
Nansubuga explained that the guide targets young learners who are naturally curious and eager to explore. She believes these students will extend their learning by practicing life competencies at home.
“Teachers should gamify learning without explicitly labeling it as a game, allowing learners to discover and engage naturally,” she added.
The NCDC expects this move to make the transition to learner-centered education more seamless for schools nationwide.
