CBC is on right track, declares Education chief

The government has put in place adequate measures to ensure the successful roll out of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)

 Education Cabinet Secretary  George Magoha said he was happy almost all stakeholders have  endorsed the curriculum. 

Speaking during the release of the 2019 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam results, he assured the public the ministry has put in place all measures for a successful rollout.

 He said the rollout of Grade Four in January next year is on course. 

“Printing of 14 million text books for Fourth Graders is set to be concluded on November 25,” he said. 

Teething problems

Magoha added that distribution of textbooks would be concluded by December 17 to ensure all learners have necessary materials when schools open in January. 

 Since its pilot launch in 2018, the CBC, which seeks to promote skills acquisition and talent management, has been dogged by controversies.

 Kenya National Union of Teachers led by Secretary General Wilson Sossion have raised questions about public participation and teachers training on CBC.

 Last year in July, Universities’ Academic Staff Union accused the government of hurriedly implementing the curriculum.  

Secretary General Constantine Wasonga said the haphazard implementation of CBC would affect quality of higher education.

 But the CS the ministry had made great strides in its efforts to launch the curriculum in PP1 – PP3 and Grade One to Three.  

“The ministry has already launched the Curriculum Policy, Sessional Paper and National Education Sector Strategic Plan to anchor the CBC implementation,” said Magoha. 

 He said the ministry also mounted robust communication and stakeholder engagements by holding Quality Education Dialogues in all 47 counties and sector-specific pre-conferences. 

 “These events gave Kenyans a chance to hold a national conversation that culminated in a National Curriculum Conference in August 2019,” he added. 

The Teachers Service Commission Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said the commission would adequately retool tutors to handle CBC in all primary school levels.