Parents Defend CBC System in Court

Pupils learning under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) education system
Pupils learning under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) education system
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A parents' body on Monday, September 20, announced that it would move to court to defend the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

According to the National Parents Association chairman, Nicholas Maiyo, parents and guardians are concerned that the judicial decision could disrupt the education system.

Further, he stated that the association would represent ten million parents whose learners' future hang in the balance should the CBC system be discontinued.

An image of Nicholas Maiyo
National Parents' Association Chairman Nicholas Maiyo speaking at a past press briefing.
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"We are the representatives of over 10 million parents of this country, who have taken their kids to public schools and we have not spoken. So, we want to state our case to you, that we will join the case," Maiyo spoke at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) after a meeting with education stakeholders.

The parents' association is opposed to a petition filed by Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Nelson Havi, who has poked holes in the implementation of the CBC system of education.



Havi, in the petition, argues that further implementation of the curriculum infringes on students' rights across the country. He added that the 8-4-4 system was replaced unconstitutionally.

"That the actions of the first to the four respondents as set out in the petition are manifestly unconstitutional and unlawful, are prejudicial to the future of the students of Kenya and ought to be halted pending the determination of the questions raised in the petition," Havi stated.

The new curriculum received a lot of backlash from parents as some complained over the cost as well as the complexity of the assignments given to learners. The parents lamented that the CBC was not well planned and executed.

Education CS George Magoha, in a rejoinder, maintained the government's stance noting that the curriculum rollout would continue. 

"All this nonsense you are hearing ignore them and I can assure you. In my life, I think the only thing that is happened now is the Competency-Based Curriculum. Let us not allow busybodies and politicians to divert us. Why would you think that we are not working behind the curtains to ensure that the transition is smooth?” he posed during a past interview.

The outcry, however, led to KICD CEO, Prof. Charles Ong'ondo, affirming that they would address all challenges pointed out by critics and stakeholders. 

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief executive officer  Prof Charles Ong'ondo.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief executive officer Prof Charles Ong'ondo.
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