The government has approved a new technology curriculum for primary and secondary school students.
According to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the new syllabus will see students learn how to code using universally applicable languages like JavaScript and PHP.
The syllabus is a first in Africa and intends to equip learners with the skills needed to navigate the 21st-century's growing demand for technological skills.
The syllabus has an easy-to-use interface and can be taught by any schoolteacher.
The syllabus will be offered by Kodris Africa, an online publishing company, following approval by the government. KICD stated that the curriculum will include practical lessons that will allow children to improve their problem-solving skills.
Prof Charles Ong'ondo, KICD's Chief Executive Officer, stated that in order to roll out the curriculum, they will seek synergy with other stakeholders.
"In the past, coding was conceived as a high-level activity yet children can start engaging in early learning levels," Ong'ondo stated.
"We are talking to telcos, banks and other partners for the rollout. When students learn to code, they can become producers in this 21st Century digital age rather than merely consume what is created by others," Kodris Africa CEO, Mugumo Munene, stated.
The syllabus is in line with the government's efforts to promote technology, through President Uhuru Kenyatta's Digital Literacy Programme (DLP).
Kenya requires 30,000 technologists, 90,000 technicians and over 400,000 craftsmen to attain the mega projects under Vision 2030.
The 8-4-4 system was criticised for being too expensive, broad and burdensome to learners with the latter being largely blamed for causing strikes in schools. The government and other education stakeholders came up with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to promote this.
The new curriculum has been touted as the ultimate remedy to limitations identified in the 8-4-4 system because it is entirely skills-based. The CBC consist of a 2-6-3-3-3 education cycle. Every learner shall transition through a minimum of 17 levels, every level a period of 1 year. The KICD has grouped them into 4 general categories.
