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Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Competency-Based Curriculum Assessment Reform and Learning Outcome Disparities Across Urban-Rural Schools: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Musiimenta Nancy2 , Akampurira Sarah3

Journal: Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR)

Volume/Issue: Volume 5 - Issue 7

Published: 03 Aug 2026


Abstract

This study examined disparities in learning outcomes attributable to the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) assessment reform across urban and rural primary schools. Guided by a comparative crosssectional design, the study was informed by human capital and equity-in-education frameworks and sought to establish the extent to which school locality, teacher CBC training, school resourcing, socioeconomic status, and parental involvement predicted learners' attainment of competency proficiency. A structured assessment and schoolcharacteristics questionnaire was administered to a sample of 700 upper-primary learners and their corresponding class teachers drawn from purposively selected urban (n=320) and rural (n=380) schools, using a multistage stratified random sampling procedure. Data were analysed in Stata using univariate frequency distributions, bivariate chi-square tests of association and independent-samples t-tests/one-way ANOVA, and a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of competency proficiency while controlling for confounding. Findings indicated a substantial urban-rural gap in mean CBC assessment scores (84.7% versus 66.2%, p
Keywords

Competency-Based Curriculum and Learning Outcome Disparities

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