Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Wilson Sossion now says that the 8-4-4 education system is the best Kenya ever created.
Speaking on Friday, Sossion said it is wrong for Kenyans to say that it was merely examination-oriented.
He insisted that a good education system must be accompanied by a strong examination system, and this is what the 8-4-4 offered.
"I dare tell Kenyans that it is wrong to condemn 8-4-4 that it was merely exam-oriented. That is what was engrained in 8-4-4. A very good education system will have a strong examination system," Sossion said in the Citizen TV interview.
The former Knut boss said as an educator, he will always celebrate the system that has been in existence for the past 39 years.
"That is why the products of 8-4-4 have scored first-class in Ivy League universities and are very competitive in the world and for me, we really would need a proper exit evaluation report for 8-4-4. Among all the education models that Kenya has developed, 8-4-4 was the best and to me, I celebrate it as an educator," Sossion said.
8-4-4 was introduced in 1985 and it provided for eight years of primary education, four years of secondary education and another four years for university education.
The last cohort of the system's eight years of Primary school sat for their examination this year. They received their results on Thursday, November 23.
Over 26 million Kenyans have sat the KCPE examination.
According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the move from the 8-4-4 system is just a transition to a system that will serve Kenyans better.
"We are only transitioning from an education structure that has served us well for four decades to one that will serve us even better. The midwives of the new education structure, the Competency Based Curriculum, will mainly be products of the KCPE examination," Machogu said.
Critics of 8-4-4 said the system relied too much on children passing examinations with a focus on Maths and sciences but left out their individual capabilities and talents.
The CBC looks to nurture their talents as well.
It follows a 2-6-3-3-3 education cycle, which means learners transition through a total of 17 levels, with each level lasting for one year.
It includes two years of early education, six years of primary education, three years of lower secondary, another three for upper secondary and another three years for university education.
