By Musyoka Kaleti
Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has welcomed the planned review of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) through a robust public participation to resolve stakeholder standoff.
Speaking when he graced the 7th graduation ceremony of the University of Embu, the legislator said there was rush in the implementation of the CBC without involving all the stakeholders to make the system a success.
“Practicability is a factor that I think the taskforce will look at because it was overlooked,” said Mukunji.
Mukunji noted that even though he does not support the scrapping of the new curriculum, he welcomes a deep scrutiny, a concise review and proper amendments to make it workable.
The legislator said the future of education should be practical and thus much effort should be channeled to mobilizing more resources to support the CBC.
“I disagree with those saying we should scrap the CBC; we should be looking into how we can have more resources channeled to schools to support the CBC,” he said.
He noted that the CBC was going to ensure learners exploit their capabilities and kick out the subjective judgment of learners based on academic qualifications.
“CBC was going to equip the learners with skills that will help do what they can in the job market but not on the basis of performance in exams. We cannot go back to 8-4-4 because that is like a ship going back to the dock,” reasoned Mukunji.
He observed that the current situation had created divisions between the rich and the poor compounded by the attendant costs of implementation in terms of material requirements and infrastructure.
“I would urge the taskforce to look into how availability of required materials can be eased in all schools to ensure balance across board,” Mukunji said.
Deputy Director in the State Department of University Education and Research Wanjakululu Wanambirifuma protested that universities were left out during the CBC implementation despite being the centres of excellence in education and research, saying the intellectuals therein cannot be ignored.
He said they believed this time round, institutions of higher learning will be brought on board alongside other stakeholders to have all aspects of the curriculum seen from a “philosophical point of view.”
University of Embu Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Mugendi said they are looking forward to the CBC review so that the country can have a good curriculum that will help mould learners to be self-reliant.
