8-4-4 was the best education system, but it was sabotaged by external forces - Sossion

Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion now opines that 8-4-4 was the best education system ever implemented, however intimating that it fell victim to sabotage, hence hindering what could have been a revolutionary leap in the country's learning landscape.

This comes amidst the phasing out of the education system that was started in 1995, and the full transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), following the release of the last ever KCPE examination results.

Speaking on Citizen TV's Day Break show on Friday, Sossion stated that the core objective of the 8-4-4 system was to introduce a skill-based approach that would produce self-reliant, innovative, and globally competitive citizens.

According to the ex-KNUT boss, the implementation of the 8-4-4 system was marred by external interference, particularly the Kamunge Report of 1988, which he said introduced cost-sharing with families, thereby disrupting the envisioned trajectory of the system.

"The 8-4-4 was the most well-thought-out revolutionary curriculum in Africa that was going to be a panacea to lead Africa to industrialization but it was systematically sabotaged by external forces,” he asserted.

"The strong knowledge framework is what has made the 8-4-4 what it is and made its graduates the most competitive in the world.”

He defended the system against the perception that it was merely exam-oriented, saying that a robust examination system was crucial for a comprehensive and effective education model.

Sossion further argued that the Koech Commission of 1998 attempted to address the funding challenges associated with the 8-4-4 system, proposing significant investments in education, but was quashed by  private school owners and the reforms never saw the light of day.

"We could be jumping from the frying pan to the fire because we have not prepared for CBC. CBC will not succeed unless it sits squarely on the foundation of 8-4-4," he said.

Lugari MP Nabiii Nabwera echoed Sossion's sentiments, expressing regret that many aspects of the 8-4-4 system, well-thought-out in the Mackay Report, were never fully implemented.

He questioned the viability of transitioning to a new curriculum without first addressing the unresolved issues within the existing one.

"I keep on asking the questions, even now. If we couldn't do it in 8-4-4, by renaming them or calling them names and fashioning them differently, will we manage ?” He posed.

"I agree with Sossion that no one is willing to invest enough money in education because it needs software investment and it is very difficult to cut a deal. It needs capitation, and we keep increasing money in other infrastructure but education.”

Amos Kaburu, Chief Consul at Opticum Group, opined that the failures of the education system are a result of the lack of strong voices in the sector.

"We systematically, internationally and unashamedly sabotaged 8-4-4. It had good intentions and it was well thought out but we lacked the will and the champions for it, and it may happen again with CBC. We need strong voices to still argue for education. We should not leave education to go on autopilot," Kaburu emphasized.