Build consensus on curriculum rollout

The controversy over the implementation of the new curriculum is not healthy. Education, historically and globally, is a theatre of contest because of different ideological orientations and parties involved. But those contestations are resolved somehow through charting a middle path.

Since its roll-out last year on a pilot basis, the competence-based curriculum (CBC) has stirred controversy at every turn. This is because there are fundamentals that are yet to be addressed. In 2016, a lot of good work was done in terms of research, stakeholder consultation, comparative studies in other parts of the world and establishment of the national steering committee to guide the process.

A national stakeholder conference was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi that interrogated the philosophy, structure and resource requirements, among others. Only funding, policy and legal framework were left unaddressed.

However, the momentum seems to have been lost, with parties drifting apart. The Kenya National Union of Teachers has come out forcefully to reject the process on the following grounds. One, lack of supporting policy and legal framework, lack of stakeholder consultation, which is a constitutional requirement, poor preparation of teachers as well as inadequate learning and teaching resources. On Friday, the union took out a full-page newspaper advert to reinforce its position. Last month, it unsuccessfully attempted to block training of teachers on the new curriculum.

The first question that begs an answer is: Does Kenya need a new education curriculum? The answer is in the affirmative. After operating the 8-4-4 for 35 years, time is ripe to relook at it and change to cope with emerging socio-cultural, econo-political and technological realities of the day. CBC sets out to achieve just that. The second question is: Is the country sufficiently prepared for the implementation of CBC? The answer is no. And if that is the situation, what ought to be done to ensure maximum preparation? That answer cannot come from the government alone, but from all stakeholders, Knut included.

We therefore call on Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to initiate a process of stakeholder consultation and public participation, including discussion with Knut, to address the shortcomings. It is unfeasible to imagine that the new curriculum can be implemented effectively without total buying-in of the key interest groups. With the experience of the 8-4-4, it would be disastrous to go into the new system without proper preparations.