WANANCHI OPINION: CBC and the Path to Educational Transformation

Since its inception in 2017, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya has attracted controversy.

CBC is intended to transform the traditional way of learning and teaching from formal knowledge acquisition and memorization to the acquisition of competencies that learners can apply in a task environment.

The objectives of CBC are very noble and justified, however there are many issues associated with its functioning that must be solved to guarantee its effectiveness.

The key postulates of the CBC are supporting each learner’s learning capacity and focusing on the acquisition of individual capabilities, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills.

This system of education is new as compared to the 8-4-4 system which was capable of flooding the market with exam-weekly oriented students and poorly equipped to prepare students for the job market or other challenges in life.

Since its establishment, CBC has been well-known for a comprehensive approach to education. It combines different learning domains such as the use of Information Technology, Environmental print and Life Skills with the modern day fast paced technological world.

CBC seeks to develop or train these competencies in their students with the hope that after completion of their programs they will be in a position to help shape the society.

However, there are challenges that have been witnessed during the application of CBC, despite the objectives being laudable.

Another concern that has been highlighted often is the issue of poor training of teachers.

A study was conducted and it was found that many teachers lacked the confidence to teach these subjects to the standards envisioned in the new curriculum which compromises the quality of education.

In order to fill this gap, there is a need for encouraging and providing professional development and support for teachers.

Another considerable factor is the expensive nature of the CBC implementation. The public, especially the parents, has also raised issues on the additional cost of procuring learning materials and resources needed for the new system.

In low-income households, for instance, the cost of education is quite steep and could be a major draw-back.

The government has a task to look for means to subsidize these costs so that all the people should be given equal right of access to quality education.

It is imperative to note that the success of CBC also depends on sufficient infrastructure and resource.

Currently, the learning facilities in many schools particularly those in the rural areas are poor, and they do not have the recommended facilities, including classes, libraries and internet among others.

These deficiencies therefore hamper implementation of the curriculum and increase the rural-urban differences in schools.

It is crucial to invest in schools to provide the necessary facilities that will ensure that all the learners have the right environment for learning.

CBC lays a lot of emphasis on the role of parents in the learning process. Although this is helpful, many parents brag that they lack the ability to help the children learn under the new system.

It thus put emphasis on the need to develop sensitization programs to ensure parents are aware of their roles as well as on how they can best support their children.

The change of from conventional tests and examination to continuous assessment under CBC is commendable.

However, the assessment methods have to be made uniform and their criteria public in order to avoid any bias or prejudice.

Assessment procedures should also be shoved with clear rules considered together with the training of the teachers on how to carry out the assessments in order to avoid compromise of the evaluations.

Therefore, The Competency-Based Curriculum adopted in Kenya has the potential of altering the education system for the better, preparing students for 21st-century learning challenges.

However, the success of the policy is hinged on the numerous implementation barriers such as teacher education, financial issues, facilities, and parents.

If these challenges are addressed, Kenya can effectively implement CBC and ensure that learners receive quality education that prepares them for the world.

In conclusion, although CBC is a laudable idea, it cannot be implemented single handedly; everybody including the government, educators, parents and the society at large has to work hard and overcome the challenges that may hinder the success of CBC.

Only in this manner can the government truly deliver on the long-term goal of offering an excellent education system that fosters all learners towards success and a prosperous future.