Describe the educational developments in Uganda 1910-1960.

The period between 1910 and 1960 saw significant developments in Uganda’s education system. Here are some key milestones:

Early 20th Century (1910-1930)

• Missionary Influence: Christian missionaries played a crucial role in establishing formal education in Uganda. They set up schools to educate African children, focusing on basic literacy, religious instruction, and vocational training.They set up numerous schools, including Namilyango College (1902), Mengo High School (1903), Gayaza High School (1905), and King’s College Budo (1906). These institutions aimed to train clerks and interpreters for both the missionaries and the colonial government.
• Technical Education: Technical institutions were established to impart vocational skills. Notable examples include the technical institutions such as St. Joseph Technical Institute Kisubi (1911), Bukalasa Agricultural College (1920), Makerere College(1922), which became highly esteemed for their neat technical work. These institutions were crucial in building mission stations across the country.
• Government Involvement: The colonial government began to take an interest in education, establishing the Department of Education (1925). This led to the creation of government schools and the introduction of standardized curricula.

Mid-20th Century (1930-1950)

• Expansion of Schools: The number of schools increased significantly during this period. Both missionary and government schools expanded their reach, providing education to a larger number of African children.
• Africans school: African started to build schools for example Aggrey Memorial School, was established in 1932 by the African community. This school was named after Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey, a renowned African educator and advocate for education.
• Curriculum Development: The first education curriculum established by the colonial government in Uganda was developed in the 1920s. This followed the recommendations of the Phelps-Stokes Commission report in 1922, which emphasized the need for a more structured and formal education system in the colonies. Later, the curriculum was broadened to include subjects such as mathematics, science, and history. This was aimed at providing a more comprehensive education to students.

Late 20th Century (1950-1960)

• Teacher Training: Teacher training colleges such as Shimoni Teachers Training College (1952) were established to improve the quality of education. These institutions trained African teachers who would go on to teach in schools across the country
• African Education Movement: African leaders and communities began to demand better education for their children. This led to the establishment of independent schools, which were run by African communities and focused on providing quality education.
• Policy Changes: The colonial government introduced policies aimed at improving education for Africans. This included the establishment of more schools, the introduction of scholarships, and the improvement of educational facilities. This was to prepare the country for self-rule.
• Higher Education: The first higher government education institution, Makerere College (1922) transformed into Makerere University (1949)), was established. This marked the beginning of higher education in Uganda.

These developments laid the foundation for the post-independence education system in Uganda, which continued to evolve and expand in the following decades.

Please obtain free notes, exams and marking guides of Physics, chemistry, biology, history, from digitalteachers.co.ug website.

Thanks

Dr. Bbosa Science