The Ministry of Education has pledged to uphold continuous consultations with stakeholders as the process of implementing the new curriculum is rolled out.
The Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Prof. George Magoha on Sunday acknowledged some stakeholders were unintentionally overlooked at the start but noted that the process of consultations about the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is not yet over.
Speaking when he launched a CBC capacity building workshop for senior education officials at Murang’a High School on Monday ,Magoha said currently the ministry is engaging parents on the new curriculum.
“Parents are fully in support of the new curriculum and we are currently engaging them to get their views as the
implementation process goes on,” he noted.
The Ministry, he said, is already doing what is required to ensure the implementation process is successful and advised those opposedto the new curriculum to read the public mood.
“We are not turning back on implementation of the CBC. Let those making noise about the new curriculum come on board and give us their views to better the process instead of trying to frustrate the whole exercise,” Magoha said.
Books, among other materials of the new curriculum, Magoha said have already been dispatched and added that majority of schools have received them.
He said a sessional paper supporting the new curriculum will soon be launched to provide the requisite policy framework for the exercise.
“Trainings on the new curriculum will continue to takeplace to ensure all teachers, education officers among other key players are well acquainted with the CBC,” he added.
Meanwhile the CS has warned school heads against introducing new levies which burden parents.
He explained that, any particular project identified by a school and which needs more funding should be agreed upon by parents and school boards of management.
“Parents should not be forced to pay for projects. If they agree to do so voluntarily, its fine but principals should not
chase students who are yet to pay the said funds away from schools,” stressed Magoha.
Some schools, he observed,a have tendency of demanding money from parents, claiming to fund some special expenses and said all money paid to schools should be accounted for.
On school unrests, the CS said parents should playa key role in ensuring their children demonstrate high discipline while at schools.
The parents, he noted, should help teachers in instilling good values to their children saying cases of burning of school property should end.
“The government gives funds to establish various infrastructure in schools and property worthy millions of shillings
should not be destroyed by fire which most probably is caused by a student,” posed Magoha.
He directed teachers to partner with security officers to protect school property and ensure learning in all schools goes on uninterrupted.
The 5-day capacity building workshop is among 17 similar seminars being organised countrywide to train officers drawn from the ministry of education, the Teachers Service Commission, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and Kenya National Examination Council.
By Bernard Munyao
