Why Ruto's CBC Changes Are Bound to Fail - Report

President William Ruto gives an address at State House, Nairobi on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
President William Ruto gives an address at State House, Nairobi on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
Kenyans.co.ke

A new study by Twaweza Kenya revealed that most Kenyans believe that the changes proposed by President William Ruto's Working Party on Education Reform are bound to fail. 

According to the report released on Tuesday, February 14, only 44 per cent of Kenyans projected the task force to meet its objectives of proposing changes to the curriculum. 

However, 56% are unsure or lack faith in the task force's capacity to achieve its objectives. 

Among the listed reasons why Kenyans believe that the task force's changes will fail to include limited public participation and the view that the government has already decided on the outcome of the process. 

James Ciera Twaweza Kenya Country Director
James Ciera, Twaweza Kenya Country Lead during the presentation of the #SautizaWananchi report at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development
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Twaweza Kenya

Furthermore, the report indicated that the Raphael Munavu-led Working Party is bound to fail because the public does not trust such task forces and their biases.

The report further indicated that a majority of Kenyans (48 per cent) are dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking to reform the school curriculum.

Results of the study done on 3,000 Kenyans between November 3 and November 17 were presented by Dr James Ciera, the Twaweza Kenya Country Lead. 

"We know that for children to learn, all the main stakeholders - parents, teachers, school leaders, and students – need to play their part," Ciera indicated in his remarks.

However, the government expressed its enthusiasm about the reception of the CBC among Kenyans, indicating that in case changes are needed, they will be implemented without hesitation.

Speaking at the launch event, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Director Charles Ochieng' Ong'ondo indicated that the CBC is in its seventh year of implementation, and there was no going back

"The curriculum is a living document. We are expected to review it every 5 years. But if it is necessary and some aspects need to be reviewed, we do that, even in 1 year, that is why we take seriously findings such as these being presented," Ng'ondo indicated. 

Twaweza's report precedes the release of the outcome of the findings by President Ruto's task force that was put in place to recommend improvements to the CBC. 

The Munavu-led task force provided preliminary findings to the president and has until March 2023 to submit the final report. 

File photo of Prof Raphael Munavu
File photo of Prof Raphael Munavu
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