Despite calls for its abolition by Kwanza's Musalia Mudavadi and others in the alliance, Ruto on Thursday supported the system but said it should be reviewed.
He addressed a symposium on education for interested parties, including teachers, parents, school managers, teachers' unions and others.
CBC focuses on learners, their skills and critical thinking. It does not revolve, like the old system, around preparing to answer exam questions.
On February 7, ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi said the system created confusion among students, parents and teachers and was too strenuous and costly.
He and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula said it was implemented haphazardly and would be abolished if Kenya Kwanza wins the presidential election.
Ruto did not mention Mudavadi by name but said there should be a review of the current CBC system as provided under Unesco guidelines.
Mudavadi was present, having been briefed beforehand.
“We are now five years into CBC. Unesco guidelines give us the latitude and recommends we review the education curriculum every five years and this is the moment.
“Watoto wanaumia, walimu wanaumia na ndio tunasema sisi kama Kenya Kwanza tukipata mamlaka… tutang’oa huo mfumo wa CBC tulete mfumo ambao unaeleweka na wakenya wote,” Mudavadi said.
This loosely translates as, "Children and teachers are suffering, that is why we are saying as Kenya Kwanza we are going to abolish CBC and bring in a new curriculum that sounds good to all Kenyans."
Former Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion is also a vigorous critic of the CBC.
The CBC system of 2-6-6-3 was unveiled in 2017 to replace 8-4-4.
Ruto, the Kenya Kwanza flagbearer, said various parties have concerns about the system, including teachers, parents, school managers and even teachers’ unions.
Therefore, he said, Kenya needs "a robust conversation that everyone is comfortable with”.
Appealing to the teaching fraternity, Ruto assured them his administration would fund the Teacher Progression Development (TPAD) programme, which has become burdensome to many.
Addressing the teachers' shortage, the Kwanza leader said if elected, his government would close the gap in two consecutive years by recruiting 116,000 new teachers.
He said his administration would set aside Sh25 billion for the recruitment.
“In closing the existing gap, we are going to employ 58,000 teachers in year one and the balance in the next year," Ruto said.
A special allowance for teachers who might be transferred away from their homes will also be set aside, he said.
The Kwanza leader announced that more technical institutes are going to be built across the country, in addition to the existing 140 institutes. Each will be set in an industrial park.
Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha has told off those calling for the end of CBC, saying the new curriculum was here to stay.
About 8.1 million learners are in the current CBC; the pioneer cohort is expected to transit to junior secondary in 2023.
The government has already disbursed Sh8 billion to improve infrastructure and build 10,000 classrooms.
In April during the release of the KCSE exam results, Magoha said 6,407 classrooms for junior secondary schools had already been completed. About 3,000 classrooms are to be completed by August.
Ruto Kenya Kwanza wants quality education to drive the economy, saying the bottom up model is enabled by the CBC system in place.
“Accessible, affordable, relevant and the right quality of education are at the bottom of what we need to discuss so we do not get half-baked people at the end of our education chain," he said.
"We want to get people with the correct education, the DP said.
During the symposium, a number of participants submitted their views on the curriculum, higher education loans and other issues.
Teachers’ unions and religious organisations running learning institutions also participated in discussions during the county economic forums organised by Kenya Kwanza.
Present were Mudavadi, Wetang'ula, Sossion, teachers. representatives and many others.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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