The 8-4-4 system has been examining students in nine learning areas folded into five exam subjects.
In the new system, however, the learners in Grade 7 will have 12 learning areas with additional two optional subjects.
The students are to gain skills ranging from communication and collaboration (working together), self-efficacy (having the confidence to do difficult things), critical thinking and problem solving (using logic, evidence, and seeing different perspectives) and creativity and imagination (coming up with ideas and turning them into real creations).
Others are citizenship where they will be allowed to understand the rights, privileges and duties of every citizen and digital literacy by using devices to access and create information, and learning by being curious to grasp new things everyday.
In addition, the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) aims to enable teachers to facilitate learners to construct their own knowledge and skills through exposure to challenging situations and experience.
The new system also aims at connecting the classroom to real life and self reliance.
The subjects include Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Science, Social Studies, Religious Education, Creative Arts, Physical Education (PE) and Life Skills.
However, those in Standard Seven in the current 8-4-4 system focus more on cognitive development (learning through thoughts, experience and senses).
The 8-4-4 system also focuses on perfection while CBC focuses on progress.
In 8-4-4 the teacher-student interaction is limited while in CBC the interaction is closer. The CBC is designed to connect the learner with the labour market through the creative work and thinking for themselves.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Officer Charles Ong'ondo says CBC's aim is to support and empower each learner to become an engaged and ethical citizen.
Prof Ong'ondo says this will be a big shift from the teaching for exams to continuous development of every learner; from lecture to hands-on learning; and from memory to understanding and learning in groups.
