A Competency-Based Curriculum Approach for Household Sustainability and Growth in Manafwa District

Abstract

This study assesses the potential contributions of Uganda's competency-based curriculum (CBC) to household sustainability and economic growth in Manafwa District, where 75% of households depend on subsistence agriculture and only 42% complete secondary education. Employing a mixed-methods design with purposive sampling of 50 participants, including teachers, administrators, students, and church leaders, the research addresses three questions: CBC elements aligned with local economic needs, church-led capitalization of CBC-derived skills, and policy recommendations for income generation. Findings indicate that CBC's three competency domains, technical skills (financial literacy, agricultural techniques), character development (leadership, resilience), and meta-learning capacities (growth mindset), directly apply to Manafwa's agricultural economy. The Church of Uganda, operating 37% of district schools and reaching 65% of households, can leverage this network through agricultural innovation centers, entrepreneurship incubation programs, skills-based cooperatives, and integrated spiritual-economic development initiatives. Evidence from existing programs shows household income increases of 28% from church-led coffee processing initiatives and 80% startup profitability within six months through CBC-aligned mentorship. Prioritized policy recommendations include localized teacher capacity building emphasizing coffee value chain analysis, formal church-government partnership frameworks, competency assessment reform measuring practical economic applications, targeted resource allocation to female-headed households (38% of households), and church advocacy establishing a CBC Economic Impact Observatory. An 18-month pilot project in three parishes is proposed to document baseline indicators, implement CBC-aligned skills development, provide enterprise mentorship, and measure quantifiable economic improvements. The research concludes that CBC offers substantial potential for household economic transformation when intentionally implemented with economic outcomes in mind, with the Church of Uganda strategically positioned as the catalyst for translating educational competencies into tangible household improvements.