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Dr. Baryomunsi emphasized the importance of the Expo in reorienting the school curriculum to meet the demands of the job market, particularly in the private sector
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By Stuart Twinomujuni
Mbarara
The Minister of ICT & National Guidance, Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, represented H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda, at the first Uganda Education and Career Expo, hosted by Ntare School in Mbarara. The Expo showcased the talents and innovations of students from across the country. It aims to transform ambition and textbook knowledge into practical skills and innovation, fostering a new generation of job creators and innovators in the era of science and technology, as championed by President Museveni.
In his speech, Dr. Baryomunsi emphasized the importance of the Expo in reorienting the school curriculum to meet the demands of the job market, particularly in the private sector. He credited the NRM government for significantly expanding access to education at all levels through policies such as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), as well as the liberalization of the education sector, which has allowed private actors to invest in it. As a result, Uganda now boasts an adult literacy rate of 80%, a significant rise from 43% in 1986.
Dr. Baryomunsi highlighted that aligning the curriculum with job market demands would help address unemployment among educated youth. He noted that the private sector requires an innovative and skilled workforce to manage emerging industries. He also reiterated the government's commitment to reforming the colonial education system, which was originally designed to produce clerks and administrators for the colonial government. Instead, he proposed that the curriculum should be more development-oriented, with a strong emphasis on applied science and technology.
"This is because science is an instrument for development. A skilled labor force is the ultimate weapon in the fight against backwardness," Dr. Baryomunsi stated.
To illustrate his point, he cited Japan as a case study in development, noting that despite lacking natural resources, the country has become one of the richest in the world due to its highly skilled population. He stressed that equipping Uganda’s population with practical skills is crucial for national development.
Hon. Baryomunsi further emphasized the need to integrate entrepreneurial skills into the curriculum. He explained that such skills would enable individuals to identify opportunities where others may see none and would help shift the mindset of young people from job seekers to job and wealth creators, particularly in the key sectors of agriculture, industry, services, and ICT.
Additionally, he pointed out that proper career guidance is essential in bridging the gap between what schools teach and what the job market requires. He commended the Education and Career Expo as a step in the right direction toward addressing this challenge.
In his final remarks, Dr. Baryomunsi urged students to avoid reckless behaviors such as alcoholism and drug addiction and to guard themselves against HIV/AIDS. He advised them to remain focused and to take advantage of every opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge that would make them productive and competitive in society.
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