The government has been challenged to ensure high school teachers and university lecturers are trained early enough on ways of implementing Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking during a graduation ceremony for grade six pupils at Thomas Academy in Maragua, Murang’a County, on Saturday, a University Don Dr. Anne Kagunda observed that the last class eight under the 8-4-4 system would be sitting their KCPE this year, and apart from efforts being directed to junior secondary schools, little was being done in the implementation of CBC in high schools and universities.
Dr. Kagunda, who is a lecturer at Moi University, also called upon universities and colleges to retool their lecturers with skills for training CBC.
“Soon the children who are in grade 7 will join senior secondary schools and later universities and colleges, and this is the right time for high schools and institutions of higher learning to prepare early on how to implement this new education system,” stated the Don.
The transition from the 8-4-4 system of learning to that of CBC also calls for the involvement of parents and all stakeholders, which Dr. Kagunda feels should be set up in all high schools by now.
The lecturer said universities and especially the faculties of education should be well equipped to train on CBC since teachers to implement it in high schools would be trained in the faculty.
“The lecturers and those in the faculty of education by now should be retooled on CBC so that as they train future high school teachers, they impart on what is needed in teaching the new curriculum,” she added.
The lecturer further noted that “parents also need to understand what is needed of them in boosting the CBC and what is required, as well as the adjustment of the learner’s mind and a paradigm shift in terms of the acquisition of knowledge.”
She said the gap between public schools and private academies in terms of requirements for effective implementation of CBC should also be closed by the government through the provision of necessary facilities and equipment.
“The failure of the government to provide the necessary equipment in public schools leads to the schools still lagging behind in terms of performance and practicality as compared to private schools. We are at a time that is a very decisive moment as far as our education is concerned, and we must come on board to save our learners and also teachers from a lot of confusion that surrounds CBC education,” observed Dr. Kagunda.
She added that for CBC education to take shape without many problems, the three Cs must be applied in terms of collaboration, consultation, and cooperation amongst the learners, guardians, and the government.
Meanwhile, as the students’ head for a long holiday, Dr. Kagunda has called on parents to give practical assignments to their children and manual work that would keep them busy and free them from unnecessary engagements such as drug abuse and alcoholism.
She noted that most parents do not spend much of their time with their children, and they abdicated the parental role to house girls and grandparents, which she termed as very risky since the parents never get time to learn about their own children.
On his part, Pioneer Group of Schools Principal John Gichengo said there is a need for parents to instill values in their children, especially during this long holiday.
“Saying words like thank you, I am sorry, and excuse me, among others, is of great value to these learners, and these will help them go far and learn how to live with others,” said Gichengo.
By Bernard Munyao
