The implementation of the new competency based curriculum (CBC)is underway.
Set to take the place of the current 8.4.4 system that has been in place since 1985,the CBC curriculum promises to delve more into competency domains and focuses on a learner’s ability and special skills in various areas As opposed to the Draconian and burdensome defunct 8 .4.4 system.
Inception
This system was introduced in Kenya in 2017 following a very robust consultative engagement with various stakeholders in the education sector,key among them being Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development(KICD),the ministry of education,parents among others.
Framework
Unlike the previous system that placed learners in primary school for 8 years,4 years in secondary school and 4 years in tartiary institutions,the new one 2.6.3.3.3 will require that learners go through:
- 2 academic years of pre-primary
- 6 years of primary training
- 3 academic years in junior secondary
- 3 academic years in senior secondary
- 3 years(minimum)in tartiary(college/university) institutions.
The above levels constitute seventeen years of learning instead of the previous sixteen.this means that a learner in the current CBC system will do an extra one year more than one who underwent the 8.4.4 system.
The above system has been summarised by KICD into four major categories as:
- Early (pre primary and lower primary)
- Middle (upper primary and lower secondary)
- Senior (upper secondary)
- Tartiary levels (university and TVET)
The terminologies existing in the previous system have been massively replaced to suit the demands of the new curriculum.examples of these terminological shifts include:
- Learning areas instead of subjects
- Strands instead of topics and
- Sub-strands instead of subtopics among others.
Breakdown
Pre primary and primary
- Pre-Primary
- Lower Primary
Lower Primary
After Pre-Primary, the learner proceeds to the Grades category. This level is made up of:
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
- Grade 3
- At this level,learners are subjected to an assessment that will determine their proceeding to the next academic level
- Upper Primary
- Lower Secondary
Consist of 3 levels;
- Grade 4
- Grade 5
- Grade 6
Upon completion of grade 6,the learners are assessed by Kenya National Examinations Council before proceeding to the next level
Here,learners have 3 levels to explore consisting of:
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Grade 9
Evaluation of learners again takes place upon completion of grade 9 before proceeding to senior school
- Social scienced
- Stem
- Arts
- Grade 10
- Grade 11
- Grade 12
At the end of the above category,the learner,armed with his/her career is ready to transit to tartiary institutions of learning to parsue his/her line of professionalism
