There has been a lot of public outcry over the postponement of the much anticipated 2-6-6-3 curriculum that was announced by the Ministry of Education earlier this week. However, of all the stakeholders involved in the curriculum that was to be rolled out in January 2019, the biggest blow seems to be to publishers and parents who has already invested their resources in the new curriculum.
Publishers have now lamented that they will lose billions of shillings since they had already put money in the publishing of new learning materials. Parents on the other hand raised concerns about the decision saying that most of them had already bought books while those with children already in the new curriculum questioned how they would revert to the old curriculum.
National Parents Association Chairman Nicholas Maiyo said they were surprised by the government’s sudden change of heart.
“We were prepared for the new curriculum and had purchased books. Now we don’t know what to do,” said Mr Maiyo.
Private schools have also spoken out on the postponement of the new curriculum describing it as disturbing as many resources will go to waste.
“On the new curriculum implementation, the position of the KPSA has been very clear; forward ever backward never. We started it. We must live with it and continuously improve/work on its challenges to make it better as we move along,” said a statement from the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA).
The association insisted that the government releases the Grade Four designs and allow teachers to prepare for next term.
CS Amina Mohamed’s announcement came as a surprise to many Kenyans as it meant that pupils who have been undertaking the new curriculum under pilot will revert back to the 8-4-4 system.
The new curriculum was to be rolled out from nursery school to class three while piloting in class four was to start next year. This after two years of piloting for the lower classes.
It’s now all a waiting game as international evaluators of the curriculum are expected to deliver the report on the new curriculum on Monday to Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.
Are you a parent/guardian who had already purchased the new books?