Kenyan Govt Changes Education System from CBC Amid Challenges, Complaints
- The Ministry of Education announced the transition from Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to Competency-Based Education (CBE), hailed as the best education system worldwide
- Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok pledged full transition support for 1.2 million learners moving from Junior to Senior School using the new KEMIS system
- He said government plans to recruit 24,000 new teachers this year to ensure smooth implementation and address stakeholder concerns over learning pathway guidelines
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, education expert Emily Wanjiru said CBE’s success depends on addressing CBC’s past implementation challenges.
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Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Baringo - The Ministry of Education has announced the government's move to transition from the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Source: Twitter
What is CBE?
During a thanksgiving ceremony at Baringo High School in Eldama Ravine, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government has now shifted to Competency-Based Education (CBE).
Bitok termed the new system as the 'best education system in the world', citing its focus on nurturing learners’ individual passions and talents.
According to the Education PS, the new model marks a significant shift from the CBC, aiming to produce a more capable and self-driven generation.
"CBE is the best education system in the world because it gives our youth the potential to showcase their talents. We are going to use our new system called KEMIS to ensure that we have 100% transition from Junior School to Senior School,” said Bitok, as reported by Citizen Digital.
The new system comes amid complaints and concerns about the government’s failure to publish clear guidelines for selecting learning pathways, an essential part of the new system.
The uncertainty has fueled anxiety in schools as 1.2 million learners prepare to transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10.
The Education PS said the government is aware of the issues being raised by stakeholders, adding that the ministry has convened a forum to refine and guide the implementation of CBE.
Bitok disclosed that the government will recruit 24,000 new teachers this year to ensure the system is well-facilitated and effectively rolled out.
“We are expecting 1.2 million children to transition from Junior School to senior school, and everything is in place to ensure that all the children have a place in senior school," Bitok stated.
What were CBC's weaknesses?
Critics of the CBC criticised the system for lacking clarity, leading to confusion and frustration among teachers, learners and parents.
Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary general Wilson Sossion said CBC was a good idea, but the implementation was rushed, leading to poor execution in many schools.
Some of the challenges that characterised the impugned system include a lack of funding, a shortage of teachers, poor and rushed training of teachers, and high costs of learning materials, among others.
The curriculum also faced criticism for encompassing too many competencies and skills, which overwhelmed students and teachers alike.
Critics also questioned the system of assessing learners, arguing it was unclear, inconsistent and based on teachers' biases rather than a defined methodology
President William Ruto was among the fierce critics of the CBC before he ascended to office in September 2022. He repeatedly promised to scrap the system once he assumed office, but decided to address the shortcomings and make it better instead of abolishing it altogether.
Source: Facebook
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, education expert and curriculum consultant Emily Wanjiru noted that while the shift to Competency-Based Education (CBE) appears promising, its success hinges on how effectively the government addresses past implementation pitfalls seen under CBC.
Wanjiru explained that CBE's strength lies in its learner-centred approach, but emphasized the need for strong institutional support, proper teacher training, and clear policy direction to avoid repeating CBC's mistakes.
“CBE has the potential to transform Kenya’s education system by focusing on what learners can do with the knowledge they acquire. But unless the Ministry of Education outlines clear learning pathways, equips teachers adequately, and ensures inclusivity in implementation, the same confusion experienced during CBC will resurface,” she told TUKO.co.ke.
What are the qualifications of being employed by TSC?
In other news, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced 2,014 vacancies to replace teachers who have left the service through natural attrition.
In an advert published on MyGov on Tuesday, 6 May, the commission stated that 1,309 of these posts are for primary schools, 32 for junior schools, and 673 for secondary schools.
Successful applicants will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
According to the notice, applicants must be Kenyan citizens. Primary school candidates should hold a P1 certificate.
Those applying for junior and secondary school positions must have at least a diploma in education, with a minimum grade of C+ in KCSE and C+ in two teaching subjects or an equivalent qualification.
Candidates must also be registered with the TSC to be eligible for the positions.
Masolo Mabonga, HOD Current Affairs and Politics, updated this article with details on the weaknesses of the CBC
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
