Pressure has continued to mount on the Kenya Kwanza administration over the implementation of the country’s education system.
Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru is the latest political figure to wade into the debate. Speaking on Thursday, September 19, 2024, Aukot opined that the education system is getting worse under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
He highlighted the cost factor which he argued had made its affordability beyond reach for some parents. Aukot cited an instance where parents were reaching out to him over bus fare to help their kids report back to school yet they have not even paid school fees.
“One of the biggest investments in any country is to educate its people and to link academia to industry and that’s how countries prosper. In the context of Kenya, it is getting worse by the day,” Aukot stated during a panel discussion on a local TV station.
Besides being costly, Aukot indicated that the new system is not clearer as the teachers, students and other education stakeholders do not properly understand what it entails.
Aukot pointed an accusing finger at the government for failing to manage the education system leading to the current confusion in the sector.
“We are in a crisis and there is a failure in the government to manage our education system. The education is totally confusing. There was no training of teachers in this education system,” the Thirdway Alliance Party leader insisted.
Make education free
Besides advocating for the reintroduction of the 8-4-4 system, Aukot challenged the government to push for free education. He argued that the country has the potential to fund education from nursery to university level through proper management and elimination of graft.
His sentiments come even as the government moves with speed to solve some of the issues raised concerning CBC and the newly launched university funding model.
In a recent move, President William Ruto formed a committee to review the university funding model.
Although the model was touted to solve the recent issues regarding higher learning, it has been met with resistance from students and parents.
They have opposed the funding model for failing to place the students in the right bands thus making university education costly to some parents.