By Kipkemboi Toroitich
60,000 teachers from both public and private schools have begun training for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which is due to be introduced in secondary schools January 2023.
The preparations are in top gear as master trainers are expected to hone their skills before transmitting them to fellow teachers at the county and sub-county levels.
Speaking at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) where the training was launched, Teachers Service Commisssion (TSC) chief executive Dr Nancy Macharia said the training will target over 116,000 teachers.
“The first phase will draw six teachers from each school to make a total of 60,000, who will be equipped to train their colleagues at devolved levels,” said Dr Macharia, adding that the sub-county and county facilitations will feature both physical and online contacts.
The teachers will be trained, in addition to methodologies and content, on the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) expectations of competency-based assessments at the school and national levels.
Progressively, Dr Macharia said, teachers will be expected to shift from traditional rote methodologies to discussions and group functions for better and broader understanding of content.
“Many more trainings are in the offing to ensure teachers have the skills to handle CBC,” the TSC boss added.
She said they had received the support of the National Treasury in the 1 billion shilling allocation for training, which will run in phases until all teachers are fully equipped with the skills and competencies necessary for the CBC dispensation.
At the same time, her Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) counterpart Charles Ong’ondo said junior secondary was a level where learners ‘explored’ and ‘experimented’ in preparation for the senior cadre where ‘career paths’ take over.
Also in attendance was Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chair Kahi Indimuli, who expressed optimism that CBC will succeed.
“We are ready for CBC. The training will assist teachers guide learners along their career paths,” he said, echoing the sentiments of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, and Kenya Union of Special Needs Teachers Secretary General James Torome, among others.
The current training will end on May 13.
