Abstract:

Uganda has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this
predicament, young adults have the ability and the capacity to drive positive social change and
economic growth, if given the appropriate resources and opportunities” (International Youth
Foundation, 2011). There is a high demand for qualified individuals in design-related
professions with competitive salaries. However, due to the lack of qualified individuals in this
field, employers have turned to overseas design firms for expertise (Ouma, 2008). Therefore,
there’s a need to widen the scope of art and design education in Uganda today (Kwesiga, 2000).

Currently, design education can only be attained at the university level with only forty
percent of secondary level graduates able to join because of the high tuition costs. Since sixty
percent of the secondary level graduates are not able to afford a University education, most end
up looking for jobs in the work force.

This thesis study proposes a secondary level design education curriculum to be implemented

during their two year advanced secondary level. Implications of this curriculum would empower
youths with basic skills to become self-sustaining, proactive professionals and preparing them to
join the labor market or go on to pursue a more rigorous study at the university level. This would
ultimately play a role in reducing the high unemployment rates among the young people in the long run.