Students were looking forward to the new curriculum come 2019 but from the look of things they may have to hold their horses and embrace the current 8-4-4 system a little longer.
This realization comes after the Ministry of Education yesterday hinted at possible postponement of the national roll-out of the new curriculum.
Appearing before the Senate Education Committee, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed gave the strongest indication that the much-hyped 2-6-3-3 Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) which is to be launched in January could be postponed.
Amina told the Senate Education committee chaired by Uasin Gishu senator Margaret Kamar that the new system, which has been piloted in select schools, has faced many challenges including lack of necessary infrastructure, enough properly trained teachers and required teaching materials.
“We are not ready to roll out the programme throughout the country. The worst that can happen is to roll out what we are not comfortable with. The design is fantastic, but the devil is in the details of implementation,” Amina told the committee adding that the roll-out of the new curriculum is important but cannot be rushed.
The CS further said that this would pave way for further engagement with stakeholders and also accord the ministry ample time to train its personnel before the implementation of the new curriculum.
The 2-6-6-3 system was to comprise two years of pre-school, six years of primary school, six years of high school, and three years of tertiary education. Classes are to be referred to as grades, rather than standards.
The inaugural students were to complete high school in 2027 meaning that 8-4-4 was to continue until the last batch sat Form 4 exams in 2026.
This means the old system was to be wiped out a year later in 2028. However, that will not happen, at least not in the near future. Grade 1 and 2 pupils who were in the pilot project involving about 350 schools in Grade 3 will now be accommodated in the 8-4-4 system.
The shocking turn of events comes weeks after Amina promised that the national roll-out of Grade One to Three in all schools would start next January.
Do you think the government was in a rush to roll out the new curriculum?