Revert To 8-4-4, CBC Review Taskforce Told in County Public Hearing
On Tuesday, public hearings on education reforms took off nationwide, with stakeholders criticizing the competency-based curriculum implementation (CBC).
Numerous speakers before the Presidential Working Group on Education Reforms (PWPER) noted the high cost of implementation, inadequate teacher training, transition, inequity, and lack of infrastructure as obstacles to CBC.
During a public meeting at Mandera Secondary School, locals advocated for a return to the 8-4-4 system, despite ongoing improvements to CBC.
Mr. Mohamed Issack, a local resident, stated that CBC was a hasty initiative that was forced upon the parents and teachers.”
Still, if given time and all the ideas from every stakeholder are considered, Mr. Mohamed said, it can improve our community.
According to him, the new school system in Mandera County has not taken off adequately due to teacher shortages.
“The few teachers we have are not even trained to teach CBC. How can Mandera be ranked with other counties that have the necessary resources?
“All the assignments in this CBC involve buying materials for them to either do at home or at school. Most parents in Mandera are poor and we cannot afford this daily expenditure,” he said.
Ms. Asli Alio portrayed CBC as catering to the wealthy, stating that her children must search the neighborhood for someone with an internet-capable phone so they may learn.
Residents of the county also advocated for the restoration of the school food program, the training of more Mandera teachers, and the provision of government cash to schools “so that they can purchase whatever necessary for learning.”
Prepare teachers
Uba Gedi, chairman of Mandeleo ya Wanawake, advocated reducing the number of topics taught under the curriculum.
Laila Abubakar, vice-chancellor of the Technical University of Mombasa, headed the PWPER team in Kwale County.
Richard Onsongo, a local resident, said that many teachers lacked training and that school infrastructure was inadequate.
The principal of Magutu Primary School, Mwanahamisi Omar, stated that parental engagement was an issue in the county because many children are nurtured by their grandparents.
However, John Wainaina rejected proposals to delay or eliminate CBC, stating that the country must implement skills-based learning to remain competitive.
“CBC is hands-on learning that allows our children to identify their talents and apply their creativity as they learn,” he said.
In the county of Turkana, escalating insecurity and education disparities were recognized as significant obstacles to the implementation of CBC.
The PWPER delegation, led by chairman Raphael Munavu, was informed that schools in areas prone to banditry are routinely closed, and that children are among those slain in banditry-related attacks.
“The government should beef up security at all our schools along the border and allocate special grazing grounds for drought-hit pastoralists forcing their way into schools,” said Knut branch chair Kenyaman Ariong’oa.
Josephine Walela, director of education for the county, stated that the county confronts infrastructure problems, food shortages, and inadequate money.
Lessen stress on parents
Kiarie Badilisha, the governor of Nyandarua County, urged the government to boost the money for the implementation of CBC to reduce the burden on parents.
Abdikar Ismael, of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association warned that institutions in Samburu County will be overwhelmed by the double admission in January of next year.
Grace Seneiya, a spokesperson for special schools, advised the task team to subsidize the cost of Braille machines.
She stated that Samburu only has a single special school that cannot handle pupils from the entire county.
According to stakeholders in Busia County, CBC should be streamlined to alleviate parental burdens, and junior secondary schools should be housed in primary schools due to the age of students.
The PWPER teams will undertake hearings tomorrow in the counties of Mombasa, Makueni, Nyeri, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Bungoma, Nyamira, and Homa Bay.
