MWANGI: CBC not exploitative, it provides cost-saving options

Some people are sceptical about the promise by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development that the Competency-Based Curriculum is not expensive.

Some parents are developing a negative attitude towards this curriculum that is set to replace the 8-4-4 system.

Their anger is due to the many books they have been asked to buy for their children who recently started the first term of the 2021 academic calendar.

Last week, KICD through a press release clarified that CBC has nothing to do with parents being asked to buy a collection of books in the guise that they are related to the curriculum.

Teachers are expected to make rational decisions on what is required to aid learning, depending on where a school is located.

The curriculum designs that the teachers prepare for lessons.

CBC advocates the use of locally available resources to encourage innovation, originality, imagination and creativity in carrying out tasks.

They do not for instance prescribe that something must be printed for it to pass the test of being CBC compliant.

CBC is also designed to connect with Vision 2030 besides linking us with the regional countries and the world at large.

It aims to help our economy grow and flourish by fixing the disconnect between school and the world of work.

Our country needs more creative workers who can think for themselves and do something as opposed to those whose ultimate focus is white-collar jobs—this will in turn make Kenya globally competitive.

The CBC journey started in 2009 when a summative evaluation of 8-4-4 was undertaken.

The task force on the realignment of education to the Kenya Constitution 2010 and global standards recommended a competency-based curriculum.

The shift from the curriculum used under the 8-4-4 to CBC means turning the focus from teaching for exams and memorising facts to hands-on learning, understanding and learning in groups while appreciating the place of values in society.

KICD through the CBC curriculum aims to support every child to become ‘empowered, engaged and an ethical citizen.’ This is against a backdrop of article 53 (1) (b), which states, that “every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education.”

Implementation of the new curriculum in phases is a deliberate, well-structured approach meant to ensure a seamless transition without affecting learners in the subsequent years while paving the way for monitoring every stage of the implementation.

The CBC is being rolled out one year at a time. The first cohort of CBC was piloted in 2017 and are now in Grade 5 and expected to complete Grade 12 in 2028.

The last cohort learning under 8-4-4 is now in Std 6 and are expected to complete Form 4 in 2027.

The difference between the two systems is CBC is learner-centred.

Its implementation deviates from 8-4-4 where the teacher was everything in class and passing examinations was the ultimate goal.

CBC has restructured the education system from 8-4-4 to 2-6-3-3.

Pupils are supposed to take two years in pre-primary school, six years in primary and three years in junior school.

If a student passes Grade 9 exam, they can then join senior high school for three years after which one will join university for another three years.

Std 8 exam will be replaced by Grade 9 exam under CBC while Form 4 exam will be replaced by Grade 12 exam.

The last KCPE and KCSE exams will be done in 2023 and 2027 respectively.

In a nutshell, CBC aims to shift from the talk-chalk learning mode to a hands-on mode of facilitating the learner to exploit his potential.

With a clear understanding of CBC, we can all appreciate that our children are being nurtured to be of benefit to society at large.

So teachers, don’t scare parents by giving huge book lists in the name of CBC, be creative and explore locally available materials to enhance practical learning.

Student, Moi University

Edited by Kiilu Damaris