CBC Pilot Study for Grade 6 to Kick-Off

Students carrying out projects in the CBC education system
Students carrying out projects in the CBC education system
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The Ministry of Education has announced that the Grade 6 pilot study for Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will commence on September 27.

In addition, the Teachers Service Commission(TSC) mentioned that 106,000 teachers will be trained in preparation for the roll-out that includes 60,000 high schoolteachers.

The announcement was made at a breakfast media briefing held on Tuesday, September 14. The meeting brought together different stakeholders in the education sector, including Ministry of Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha. 

Education CS Prof. George Magoha speaking to learners of Chavakali High School, Vihiga County on March 6, 2021.
Education CS Prof. George Magoha speaking to learners of Chavakali High School, Vihiga County on March 6, 2021.
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Education CAS, Dr Sarah Ruto praised the CBC, stating that the new system was flexible and offers development of skills and knowledge on learners.

She went on to state the current curriculum empowers parents to play a leading role in the education of their boys and girls unlike was the case with 8-4-4.

The present-day Grade 5 students have been the pilot group since CBC commenced in 2017, following its creation by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

''We have trained over 228,000 primary school teachers to help implement the new curriculum. 

“Also, TSC has trained 1,166 tutors of both public and private teacher training colleges on CBC,”  said Nancy Macharia CEO of TSC, added on the CBC roll-out.

However, according to Economic Survey 2021, 81.6 per cent of teachers held P1 certificates contrary to the requirements of a diploma in order to have effective implementation of CBC.

“CBC learners are the happiest in Kenya as they are not stressed by exams and the assessments given are friendlier,” said the chair of Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association, Johnson Nzioka.

To allay fears raised by a section of parents over CBC's effectiveness, Permanent Secretary for the Implementation of Curriculum Reforms, Prof Fatuma Chege reassured them that appropriate plans were in place to ensure the success of the system.

“The government has laid out elaborate ways of placing Pioneer CBC learners, now in grade 5 into secondary school,” said Prof Fatuma Chege.

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Teachers at the Ministry of Education's CBC training in 2020
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