By Roy Hezron
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has distance itself on claims that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) requires a long list of learning materials to support curriculum delivery in schools.
KICD Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prof. Charles Ong’ondo has challenged head teachers to consider selecting the most appropriate course books from the approved ones because given the prevailing economic circumstances, it is unfair to demand that parents buy all the books that publishers bring forward.
“Publishers have done a recommendable job. We interact with great ideas during evaluation but we have to agree that not all of these books should be made compulsory to be bought by parents. Schools could purchase a few of these as reference materials by teachers and not necessarily as books that pupils must have in class.” Said Prof. Ong’ondo in a communiqué to media houses dated August 5, 2021.
Prof. Ong’ondo explained that the government procures books for learners in public schools and the rest are complementary learning materials that ought to be optional.
He added that there are various ways to promote the practical learning under the new curriculum without asking learners, particularly those in Early Years of Education (EYE) to purchase many books.
“CBC has nothing to do with learners being asked to come to school with a heap of textbooks,” added Prof Ong’ondo.
He said parents are free to choose from the wide collection of approved curriculum support materials but they should not be coerced to invest in the supplementary course materials.
The KICD boss said the curriculum designs that teachers rely on to prepare learning lessons provides for suggested learning materials, which means that teachers are expected to make rational decisions on what is required to aid learning, depending on where a school is located.
He added that such cost effective approaches to learning enhances imagination and creativity; critical thinking and problem solving, which are some of the core competencies for basic education.
