The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary general, Collins Oyuu, listed three key flaws of the 8-4-4 system, which he argued have largely contributed to the high unemployment rate in the country.
According to Oyuu, the system was more oriented on exams than the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which focuses on skills.
He argued that the three stages of examination in a learner's life condemned graduates to manual jobs if they failed.
The Kenyan National Primary Education (KCPE), the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE), and the tertiary exams were fronted as the key stages that shaped and doomed the life of a learner.
"The 8-4-4 system was marred with knowledge, and exams were common. The system was examination-oriented," Oyuu lamented.
"You have the knowledge and no skill at all. You, therefore, join the group of boda boda riders. In these places, you can easily become a thief out of frustrations,” Oyuu added.
He further lamented over the plight of students who underwent the 8-4-4 curriculum, underlining that the majority spent most of their time in exam rooms as compared to classrooms.
However, he acknowledged learners who went through the system and secured jobs in reputable organisations.
"That is a very special learner. The learner had talent under the 8-4-4 system but developed it alone, this is where CBC comes in,” he said.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General praised the CBC, noting it will equip learners with the necessary skills relevant to the job market.
"The aim of CBC is to nurture skills in learners so that the learners are not condemned when they go through all the exam stages," Oyuu stated.
He additionally called upon the government to look into the welfare of teachers as it reviews the CBC curriculum.
The CBC task force already called on parents to submit their reviews on the curriculum, which several stakeholders oppose. CBC was said to be more parent-oriented than student-centred.
Some guardians argued that the new curriculum is expensive despite focusing on sharpening students' skills and thought processes.
