Address sticky issues in new curriculum to end confusion

Parents and guardians with children in lower primary school can attest that the new curriculum is not as bad as it has been painted by some. All things considered, the competency based curriculum is progressive. It is a better, richer package for children at that level, compared to the 8-4-4 system.

However, the confusion and controversy that surround implementation of the new syllabus confirms that the country was ill-prepared to roll it out.

While she was the Education Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed halted, albeit temporary, implementation of the 2-6-3-3-system, arguing that the country was not ready for the move.

Not long after, she was moved to the Sports ministry. Some see Amina’s short-lived directive as being the Freudian slip that cost her the Education ministry job.

It is now clear that Amina’s fears were valid. On Wednesday, while responding to MPs concerns a day before, Education CS George Magoha explained that pupils would sit examinations at the end of grades nine and 12.

But he said a task force was yet to decide whether pupils would sit for examinations before proceeding to junior secondary.

Clearly, despite years of planning for the new curriculum, an exercise that cost taxpayers millions of shillings, many sticking issues are yet to be addressed. This ought not be the case.

The issues now disturbing our minds ought to have been addressed long ago. We should not be asking whether junior secondary should be in primary or secondary school.

We should not be questioning whether enough teachers have been trained on CBC, or pointing out errors in textbooks.

It is clear some people slept on the job. That is why we are sailing rudderless in uncharted waters.

There are other elements of the new curriculum that also need to be addressed. This includes the requirement for parents to print pictures and reading materials for their children. One wonders what happens in rural areas where the internet is unavailable and printers unheard of.

All said and done, the new curriculum is good. All it needs is a patch here and there. We should not throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Luckily, Prof Magoha is ready to show the country the way.