Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua: CBC is here to stay

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza government is not planning to scrap the competency-based curriculum (CBC).

Speaking at the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CEMASTEA) in Karen, Nairobi on Wednesday during the induction of 49 members of the CBC taskforce, Gachagua said the review will help improve the education system, and address the already identified challenges.

"Let me confirm that the CBC is not being repealed. The taskforce will get views from stakeholders and Kenyans on how to improve the CBC and address the challenges that our children face with the curriculum," said Gachagua.

He added that contrary opinion on CBC to that of the government was also welcome.

"I am inviting all critics, including the press, for criticism. I urge you to write papers and present what you think can help the education [system] in Kenya. To Kenyans, do not be bystanders in this process, if you have anything we can put in the education reform process, it is the time to come out," he said.

On September 30, 2022, President William Ruto appointed 42 members and seven secretaries to the Education reforms taskforce to review CBC progress.

The taskforce includes seven secretaries, including Dr. David Njegere, CEO of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

The other six secretaries are Dr. Elyas Addi, Patita Tingoi, Prof. Jackson Too, Dr. Reuben Nthamburi Mugwuku, Richard Miano and Eunice Gachoka.

The team will be in place for six months.

The review came on the back of concerns raised by parents on the double transition of learners to secondary schools in January amid limited accommodation and the high cost of the new education system.

The taskforce will be expected to, among others, undertake summative evaluation of the competency-based-curriculum and assess and recommend an appropriate structure to implement the competency-based-curriculum.

The team will also assess the examination framework and the quality assurance and standards framework.

The team will also review and recommend a governance and financing framework for TVET training and development, university education, research and training.

Under the CBC programme, learners spend two years in pre-primary, six years in primary (Grades 1-6), three years in junior secondary (Grades 7,8,9), three years in senior secondary (Grades 10,11,12) and three years in university.

Unlike the 8-4-4 system that was said to be theory-heavy, CBC focuses on equipping a learner with technical, artistic and scientific skills that enables him or her to be hands-on.