One of the core objectives of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is to produce holistic individuals with competencies, values, knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this highly competitive world.
Ole Hussein, a Garissa educationist, notes that the objective informed the policy document that changed the curriculum from 8-4-4 to 2-6-3-3-3.
“Original 8-4-4 was geared towards delinking it from the emphasis on examinations witnessed in prior systems,” noted Hussein, adding that the students were expected to manage their time and do their assignments without involving parents.
“Though 8-4-4 was later watered down to five subjects, it was a far cry from current CBC which demands parents’ time in assignments,’’ said the veteran educationist.
Dr Maryam Sheikh Abdi, plying a job in Canada, wonders if the modern busy parent has much time for the children, which CBC demands.
‘’Indeed the system was geared to offer students a commitment platform for self-reliance, for students to be better oriented towards self, and also worked towards promoting self-expression and self-discipline,’’ said Abdi.
That notwithstanding, independent Kenya’s education history picked from the colonial system in 1963 wherein there was no nursery school. After four years the learners sat a Common Entrance exam to join standard five, and in Standard 8 sat the Kenya African Primary Examination (KAPE).
Against this background, one principle of CBC lies in what the learners are expected to do rather than what they are expected to know. It is said to be learner-oriented, adaptive and geared towards changing the needs of the student, teacher and society.
“A keener look at the systems reveals that besides colourful terms as outcome, strand, learning experience and activities, and Pertinent Contemporary I (PCI), the two systems have very close semblances.
YOU MAY ALSO READ:
By Amoto Ndiewo
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
