Sh3.5 billion needed for curriculum as Amina defends Ministry : The Standard

The last Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination will be written in 2027 as the new education curriculum takes root in schools. The ministry of education, however, urgently requires Sh3.5 billion to complete the roll out of the new 2-6-6-3 curriculum that began this month and begin phasing out the current 8-4-4 system.  These details emerged as Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed was hard-pressed to explain the back and forth decisions her ministry made last year on implementation of the new curriculum. Roll out

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Members of Parliament sought to know what had informed the pronouncement by Amina that the national roll out of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) would be postponed, only to backtrack on the decision later. The MP’s also sought to know the level of preparedness in terms of budgetary allocation, availability of books and teacher preparedness even as the roll out kicked off in January. “Kindly tell us what happened because you made the announcement that the national rollout would be postponed based on a number of reasons you cited. But you changed that a few hours later and said we were now ready,” said Zadoc Ogutu (Bomachoge Borabu, MP). Chemusei MP, Wilson Kogo sought to know specific details that informed change of plan after Amina emphatically stated that another one year of piloting would be undertaken. “You said you were suspending implementation. Then you later said you are doing piloting. This also changed to national roll out. Are you lying to Kenyans?” Kogo said.

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The questions emerged during a special sitting of the National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP, Julius Melly. Melly also sought whether the new curriculum would cure joblessness. Amina defended her change of mind and accused her critics of being unfair. “Only a dead man (or woman) cannot change their minds,” she said. Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Jwan Julius were present.

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Long hours Amina told the MPs that staff at the Ministry of Education and KICD worked long hours to ensure the process was implemented and legal hurdles raised last year had been addressed. “The Ministry has now finalised the preparation of the Sessional Paper on Reforming Education and Training and forwarded it to Parliament for approval,” said Amina. She also told MPs that a curriculum policy has also been completed and forwarded for publication. Curriculum designs for early years’ education have also been developed and are already in schools. Curriculum support materials for Pre-Primary 1, II and Grade 1, 2, 3 have also been completed and teachers trained.

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Amina announced that next year, there will be an annual roll out of of the curriculum in Grade 4 to 12.

Related Topics

2-6-6-3 curriculum8-4-4 systemAmina MohamedCBCCS AminaSh3.5 billionEducation