Outgoing Education Cabinet Secretary George Omore Magoha published a 59-page bulletin to defend the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC), stating that it serves the current market demands.
Titled CBC Implementation Bulletin Volume 1, Magoha argued that recalling the 8-4-4 would water down the ministry's progress to reform the education sector.
Magoha highlighted that the purpose of the printed newsletter was to provide a platform for information and knowledge sharing and enable citizens to understand and appreciate what is being done, but also express themselves freely on issues regarding CBC implementation.
He was vocal about education being a shared responsibility and that all stakeholders need to understand and appreciate the implementation and what is required of them.
CBC, Magoha underlined, is critical as its equipping the latest crop of learners with the knowledge and the capacity to learn and relearn.
"The current environment is radically different from what the 8-4-4 system of education was created to respond to. We are now in a knowledge-based society faced with constantly changing challenges, constraints and opportunities. This needs a new kind of education," Magoha says in the bulletin.
He advocated proper investment in CBC, stating the country will also achieve its long-term plans for economic development, which further aligns with President William Ruto's agenda.
"Kenya has set in motion an ambitious but essential, review and reform of its education system. The goal is to equip the students with the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to contribute in meaningful ways to society," Magoha stated.
Supporting Magoha's message, Education Principal Secretary Fatuma Chege noted that the government had continued to employ a multi-sectoral approach in preparing the necessary policy documents and guidelines to aid in the smooth transition in CBC.
In her message to parents, Chege added that learners will have skills, values, knowledge, and attitudes to effectively deal with local, regional, global, social, cultural, economic and technological demands.
She further clarified that the role of parents is only to guide their children but not to perform the assigned duties for them.
Julius Jwan, PS in the State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education, added that Ministry had invested in improving students' teaching and learning environment.
Jwan noted that there are other projects in the pipeline to equip learners with more skills and make CBC less costly.
Their message comes days after President Ruto assured the nation that he will form a task force to identify loopholes in the implementation of the education system.
