Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera has issued a warning about the looming crisis over the Grade 10 transition in the Competency Based Education (CBE), revealing that none of the 54 schools in his constituency will be offering the Arts and Sports Pathway due to a lack of infrastructure.
Speaking on Wednesday, Nabwera painted a grim picture that not only affects his constituency but also many, if not all, counties in the country.
According to the MP, most counties have no access to schools offering these critical pathways, putting the educational future of these students in jeopardy.
“The area where many counties will be disenfranchised is in the sports and art pathway. It is for the chosen few,” the MP said.
Under the CBE system, learners entering senior school (Grades 10–12) are expected to choose one of three pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; or Arts and Sports Science.
The Arts and Sports Science pathway comprises Fine Arts, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film, Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation, with the addition of compulsory subjects.
However, Nabwera argues that the infrastructure required for the Arts and Sports pathway, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, and trained teachers, is practically nonexistent in most rural areas.
“Even in the country itself, how many teachers are trained in sports education? But then, why did we do this transition? Because we set the dream, then we're like, oh, we don't have enough sports and humanities. So it means essentially we are going ahead of the cart before the horse,” the MP continued.
The MP has blamed the unfortunate situation on the hurried implementation of CBC, now CBE, criticising former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for ignoring a more cautious rollout plan proposed by his predecessor, Amina Mohamed.
“She had a blueprint. She said we need more time. We needed a dry run. But Matiang’i forced it through,” the MP said.
According to the MP, the damage has already been done, there are already eight cohorts in the system, and reversing CBE would be disastrous.
He, however, suggests that the system be fixed. One of the key recommendations he supports is the establishment of at least two well-equipped schools per sub-county, one for boys and one for girls, that can offer the Arts and Sports pathway.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has assured parents that efforts are underway to ensure the transition is seamless and no student is left out of the much-needed education system.
