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Clear CBC confusion
Education reforms are vital as they enable a review of the curriculum for the benefit of the learners and the country. Through learning, knowledge, critical thinking, and skills are enhanced to enable youth to contribute to national development. An educated population is, of course, potentially more productive.
There have been several changes and tweaking of the education system since independence to make it more relevant to the country’s needs. The most comprehensive was the overhaul under the 8-4-4 education system. It was introduced in 1985 to address the concern that the basic education was sufficient for self-employment.
Then President Daniel arap Moi spearheaded the system to equip students with practical skills for self-employment and to boost the informal sector. But it was eventually found wanting, hence the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
However, its implementation is proving challenging and characterised by confusion and fumbling. Deciding where to locate junior secondary school sparked a lot of debate. It was finally decided that Grade 7 be domiciled in primary schools. The biggest criticism is that there has been little real learning going on. The system has also been dogged by lack of classrooms and teachers.
Some critics have asked whether the CBC is about trial and error, with conflicting pronouncements, kneejerk alterations and inconsistencies since its launch in 2018. What has attracted even more attention lately is the flip flopping on whether mathematics will be a mandatory or optional subject.
Also raising eyebrows is the reference at a national forum to competency-based education (CBE) instead of the CBC. And Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has had to clarify that mathematics will be compulsory in senior school. The experts feel that Mathematics, English and Kiswahili are crucial subjects that should be a must for all students.
The confusion does not augur well. Experts and other stakeholders, including parents, must be fully involved in these education reforms.
