The implementation team for the Digitally Enabled Community-Centered Early-Childhood Development Approach (DECEDA) project has undergone a comprehensive training ahead of the official rollout scheduled to commence on 7th July, 2025. The training, held at Nkumba University, aimed to prepare the team for the uphill task and effective project delivery across 30 beneficiary schools in five regions of Uganda.
The training kicked off with a detailed presentation of the findings from the recently concluded project needs assessment. The report highlighted a glaring digital divide in the targeted schools but revealed a strong interest and eagerness for ICT skills uptake among both learners and teachers.
“There is a clear yearning for digital knowledge, especially among teachers who are ready to embrace technology in the classroom.” Nansamba Milly, who was part of the needs assessment team, noted during the training.
Project implementers were taken through foundational elements of the DECEDA implementation strategy, including building rapport with trainees, proper conduct, aligning with partner interests, and the core training methodology to be employed. Emphasis was placed on participatory engagement, use of digital tools, competence assessment, and thorough understanding of project planning, monitoring, and evaluation technicalities.
The technical component of the training included a practical session on the use of conference camera systems. Trainers were shown how to conduct both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (pre-recorded or on-demand) learning sessions using these systems.
Officials from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) later joined the session to assess implementation readiness and officially handed over digital pedagogy and ICT equipment. The equipment will be distributed to the 30 beneficiary schools to support the DECEDA initiative.
According to Mr. Joseph Lwevuze, a digital pedagogy expert and the e-learning officer at Nkumba University, the project will empower teachers with essential digital skills.
“Teachers will be trained on basic ICT skills, online safety, information literacy, source credibility, and digital pedagogy with a focus on content authoring,” Mr. Lwevuze said. “We are particularly emphasizing the importance of collecting and responding to trainee feedback to ensure that the training remains effective and responsive to the needs of the learners.”
The DECEDA project is being implemented by Nkumba University with support from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF). The initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide in early-childhood education by equipping schools and teachers with the necessary skills and tools to deliver technology-enabled learning.
The project implementation phase officially begins next week in an act that is expected to supplement chalkboards with smart boards, a milestone in Uganda’s push to integrate ICT in foundational education.