The revised Ordinary Level science curriculum will not come into use until next year, according to the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC).

NCDC Director General Charles Gahima attributes the delay of the new syllabus, that was expected to be in use this year, to a shortage of required text books.

"We have not yet got enough text books to help in the new science teaching system,” Gahima said Wednesday in a phone interview, but promised that such books will be available next year.

The revised syllabus, aimed to promote science and technology in the country, is expected to bring a new teaching system that mostly focuses on laborator-based practical lessons.

He said the changes in science teaching to be effected by the syllabus will start with Senior One, and about 180 teachers have been trained for that countrywide.

Gahima further explained that they have trained these teachers who will train others in order to cope with the new teaching system in Biology, Chemistry and Physics subjects.

He added that manuscripts of the new syllabus and text books detailing the new format (reference books) have been given out to schools to get them prepared.

Also, schools will have to rely on them to prepare the required science kits to replace the old ones in their usual laboratories since they are no longer relevant.

Regarding laboratory equipment capacity for concerned schools, he affirmed that some are already well equipped, while those without will benefit from NCDC this year plan.

However, he advised schools, especially privately owned ones with capacity to acquire the necessary lab equipment, to do so before the new teaching system starts.

The plan to have a revised curriculum which puts more emphasis on practical studies other than theories comes in the awake of execution of new examinations setting and questioning.

The new examination setting and answering system initiated last year demands students to provide long, well thought-out answers, not like the past system of giving objective answers. 

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