Lab kits ready for junior, senior secondary school CBC transition

The government has now provided standardised laboratory kits for Junior and Senior secondary education in line with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)  system.

The School Equipment Production Unit (Sepu) developed the CBC lab equipment for use in secondary schools, as pioneers of the new curriculum join Grade Seven in January.

Sepu chief executive officer Joel Mabonga (left) says they  have developed five categories of science kits. “The categories include primary science kit for Grades Four to 6, integrated science kit for junior secondary (Grades 7-9), chemistry kit for senior school, biology kit for senior school, and physics kit for senior school,” said Mabonga yesterday.

He said the guidelines developed for specific kits cover aspects like content, relevance to the CBC curriculum, working condition of the items in the kit, model, attributes of items, labeling, organisation, storage, portability and user manuals.

“The kits provide low-cost, local, and essential alternatives as teaching and learning resources. This will allow many schools to acquire standardised kits for effective teaching and learning of science subjects,” Mabonga said. He added that use of learning resources such as CBC kits will enhance development of science subjects and practical skills.

“The kits will also enhance the acquisition of knowledge, concepts, principles, motivation, and change of attitude towards science among learners. Sepu has further developed user guidelines/manuals for effective use of the kits by teachers and learners,” he explained.

Mabonga said the kits have a number of features like management of toxic/poisonous, explosive, corrosive and/or inflammable substances, handling of fragile/sharp apparatus and instruments, dangerous animals, plants and insects, administration of First Aid, waste disposal, general precaution signs and methodology on practical work.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha last week inspected the kits.

Mabonga said the ministry has inspected more than 5,000 new classrooms constructed by private schools for the CBC pioneer class.

Last month, the ministry listed private and public schools that learners were to select from for placement in Grade Seven in January.