REFORMS ON SUBJECTS TO BE TAUGHT UNDER COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM(CBC)
JSS learners will take fewer subjects than what is currently in the Basic Education Curriculum Framework (BCEF).
The PWPER observed that there was overlap of some learning areas and recommended that related subjects be grouped and taught together.
BCEF has 12 core subjects and optional ones. Core subjects are English, Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language, mathematics, integrated science, home science, pre-tech and pre-career education, social studies, religious education, business studies, agriculture, life skills and sports and physical education.
The learners are also expected to choose one or two optional subjects from visual arts, performing arts, computer science and a foreign language (German, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Kenya Sign Language or Indigenous language).
To reduce the workload on children, the President instructed the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to re-organize the learning areas though a timeframe was not given.
For Grades 1 to 6, it was proposed that the number of learning areas remain the same but the curriculum designs be revised to reduce the workload.
“It’s too early to comment without the comprehensive report but these things must be done fast. We’ve done corrections with the KICD. We haven’t printed but we’re ready once given the go-ahead,” Kenya Publishers Association chairman Kiarie Kamau.
The President’s statement indicated that the government would hire 30,000 teachers to bridge the staffing gap in public schools which stands at 116,000.
Though details of the recruitment (which the President directed be done by January 2023) were not made public, the Saturday Nation has learnt that the tutors may be engaged on a contract basis instead of permanent and pensionable terms.
A proposal that might rub teachers unions the wrong way is to hire diploma holders from technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutions to teach pre-tech subjects.
There are few trained instructors for the subjects and the earlier Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plan was to retool secondary school tutors who have combinations in mathematics, physics and home science to teach the subjects.
Pre-tech subjects are woodwork, metalwork, technical drawing, electricity, electronics, home management, typewriting, shorthand, textile and clothing, auto-mechanics and accounting.
President Ruto is said to have been against dropping of pre-tech subjects as this lays a basis for TVET, an area that is key to the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
By hiring TVET diploma holders, the government would also be extending employment opportunities to “hustlers”.
Yesterday, President Ruto said a majority of stakeholders who made recommendations to the PWPER supported the CBC but made suggestions for its improvement.
