The Education Ministry has started engaging key stakeholders in Mombasa County to demystify misconceptions that have caused the public to misunderstand the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) education system.
The County Director of Education, Peter Magiri, said they have started to engage school managers, trainers and teachers, to share right information related to the CBC education to parents and guardians.
Addressing journalists on the sideline of Teachers Professional Development (TPD) training, at Star of The Sea Hall, Magiri observed that lack of right information has created unnecessary skepticism and impression that the system is a burden to parents and guardians and expensive to be implemented in the country.
“Lack of right information has led to many parents thinking CBC is expensive. We have talked to trainers to inform teachers to convene forums with parents, to properly brief them about CBC requirement; that local materials are enough to aid them implement the system,” added Magiri.
The Director further challenged teachers to use different innovative approaches in CBC education system, which was developed to harness the creativity and innovation ability of learners.
Magiri cited that the use of local materials is one of many ways teachers would explore in making the new education system succeed.
The Director said they have also engaged Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), to also support in helping their members understand the CBC education system.
The County Education Board and the Teachers Service Commission have started training of 2,500 public primary teachers, on new teaching methodology and assessment of learners.
The main initiative of the training, is to help teachers to deliver quality education across all the Six Sub-Counties of Mombasa.
The Director, however, advised parents to approach the respective authorities in case of queries concerning the new curriculum adding that CBC will enable learners acquire the necessary skills needed in future.
Magiri added that the training has been implemented in clusters and plans are underway to extend the training to private school teachers.
“We have organised with the Chairman of private schools to organise his members, so that we can roll out the training in private schools, starting with Changamwe and later Nyali,” added Magiri.
He also blamed social media for spreading misinformation about CBC, leading to a cross section of Kenyan parents developing negative attitudes.
KEPSHA National Vice Chairman, Fuad Ali, who is Tom Mboya Primary School Head Teacher, said Mombasa has made great strides in implementing the CBC system.
“There are misconceptions out there about this education system, which has been fueled by social media. This system requires involvement of parents, to also play certain roles unlike the previous system. We shall continue to raise awareness among our parents to understand what CBC education system is all about,” added Fuad.
Teacher Service Commission (TSC) Mombasa County Director, Dr Samuel Marigat, noted that the new education, system has enhanced the capacity of learners to understand their environment and surroundings.
“I urge fellow parents to seek for the right information from the relevant offices, instead of relying on unverified messages shared on social media,” added Dr Marigat.
By Galgalo Bocha and Riziki Tokal
