His Excellency President Kenyatta has praised the Competence-Based Curriculum-CBC saying that will play a key role in boosting competitiveness of workforce.
During the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Kenyatta said CBC is aimed at preparing the country to produce decent and rewarding jobs.
“We have also delivered a national competency based curriculum and on universal access to schooling, which will further boost competitiveness of our workforce,” he said.
“Kenya is, blessed with a youthful, well-educated, and productive population that has managed to build one of the most vibrant mixed economies in Africa.
We are implementing ambitious programmes to prepare the country to produce decent and rewarding jobs. Our investments in roads, air and port infrastructure, and critical health care facilities throughout the country, are the most extensive and ambitious in our history.”
Parents have complained about CBC curriculum citing the cost and long shopping lists for learning materials prompting Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi to challenge the new curriculum in court.
On behalf of the petitioner, lawyer Esther Awour Adero, Havi said the roll out of the new curriculum primarily on the basis of the Basic Educational Curriculum Framework of 2017 and the Sessional Paper 1 of 2019 on curriculum reform constituted a violation of the Basic Education Act and the Constitution.
“The action by the Education Ministry to implement the new curriculum is unlawful and prejudicial to the future of the children of Kenya and ought to be halted,” read the petition.
The petitioner argued that actions by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, the Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) are unlawful and prejudicial to school-going children.
Parents are also questioning the standardisation of the curriculum, claiming that other regions may be disadvantaged, especially those that are outside the city.
They’ve also been complaining about them being given too much work on behalf of their children.
However, Magoha said that he will ensure the implementation of the CBC system of education becomes a success as the government has invested a lot in making sure that every child is treated the same when it comes to education.
He warned the LSK to expect a serious duel in the lawsuit filed against CBC last week.
The CS maintained that the new system of education is the best for the country, adding that it is here to stay.
National Parents Association (NPA) also said that they will defend the case opposing the CBC stating that they are in support of the system noting that their concern is the judicial decision that could disrupt children’s education.
Maiyo urged KICD to roll out nationally to every parent the Parental Engagement and Empowerment Manual which was developed.