The government has announced a week-long dialogue with Kenyans about implementing the Competency-Based Education (CBE) programme, which has been in operation since 2019.
In a notice issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, March 6, 2025, the government said the dialogue would be held in all 47 counties, focusing on the quality of education and learning outcomes under CBE.
“The dialogues are designed to engage all stakeholders in the education sector regarding the ongoing implementation of the CBE, including the progress, achievements, and opportunities arising from the rollout,” reads part of the notice issued via the Daily Nation.
According to the notice, the meetings, conducted under the State Department for Basic Education, will begin on March 7 and end on March 13.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba is expected to launch the dialogues at Machakos People's Park, Machakos County, on Friday, March 7, 2025.
The dialogues are an evaluation of the curriculum that replaced the 8-4-4 system in 2019, which had been in place since 1985, and introduced a 2-6-6-3 structure: two years of pre-primary, six years of primary, six years of secondary education, and three years at the university level.
The notice states that the week-long dialogues seek to update stakeholders on the status of Competency-Based Education implementation and provide a platform for stakeholders' participation in the validation of Transition Guidelines from Junior School to Senior School.
Other areas to be discussed include the appraisal of stakeholders on teacher recruitment and capacity building, as well as receiving feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of CBC.
The discussions kick off in Machakos on March 7 at People's Park before moving to Samburu’s Maralal Polytechnic on March 10. Other sessions on the same day will be held at Meru School, Nasokol Girls in West Pokot, and Mokowe Arid Primary School in Lamu.
Moi Girls in Marsabit and St. Monica Girls in Trans Nzoia will also host engagements on March 10, with additional venues including Kisoko Girls in Busia, North Eastern National Polytechnic in Garissa, and Kisii High in Kisii. The meetings extend further to Kwale High in Kwale and Mandera Secondary in Mandera on the same day.
Migori Boys in Migori and Moi Nyeri Primary in Nyeri will host dialogues on March 10, alongside Wajir High in Wajir and Nakuru High School in Nakuru. Other locations include St. Theresa’s Girls Kibuye in Kisumu and the Coast Development Authority in Kilifi. On the same day, the Maasai National Polytechnic in Kajiado and Ol Kalou Secondary in Nyandarua will bring communities together.
Meanwhile, Taita Taveta’s Kenyatta High-Mwatate, Mbihi Girls in Vihiga, and Chuka Girls in Tharaka Nithi are scheduled for March 11. Moi Girls High School Eldoret in Uasin Gishu and Kerugoya Girls in Kirinyaga will also be hosting forums that day.
The dialogue series continues in Baringo at the Kabarnet Rehabilitation Centre and in Homa Bay at Ogande Girls on the same day. Kericho TTC in Kericho will also hold discussions alongside Kitui Multi-Purpose Hall in Kitui and Alldina Vishram in Mombasa, on March 11.
Kakamega High in Kakamega joins the list, with additional sessions planned at Waso Secondary in Isiolo on March 12. Other counties with scheduled dialogues on this day include Nyamira, where Kebirigo High School will host, and Murang’a, with Mumbi Girls as the venue. St. Mary’s Girls in Bomet, Makueni Boys in Makueni, and St. Monica Lodwar Girls in Turkana will also hold events.
On March 12, dialogues continue at Thika High School in Kiambu and Kangaru Boys’ High in Embu. Sessions will also be held at Township Secondary in Siaya, Kapsabet Girls in Nandi, and Masai Girls in Narok. Elgeyo Marakwet will host its meeting at St. Patrick's Iten, while Bungoma’s dialogue will take place at Cardinal Otunga Girls. The discussions then move to Laikipia on March 13, where Nanyuki High School will be the venue, followed by Tana River’s Hola Boys.
The final dialogue session is set for March 13 at St. George’s Primary in Nairobi.
