Page 8 - People Daily Newspaper

NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Monday, September 20, 2021

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by Noah Cheploen Ong’ondo (pictured) dismissed claims the much about it until it has gone through the Cur-
@cheploennoah implementation of CBC was rushed and that riculum Reform Cycle,” he said.
parents were not adequately involved. “A curriculum is a visionary document just
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Develop- “We held stakeholder engagements since like the constitution. You might not achieve
ment (KICD) has defended teachers against 2009 and we have transcripts and videos to some things immediately but you will ultimate-
claims they were burdening parents with chil- proof that we complied with the laws,” he said. ly achieve them,” the official said.
dren’s homework, saying parental involvement There has been a lot of criticism of the new
was the core foundation of the Competency- Reform cycle system, with parents who have children in pri-
Based Curriculum (CBC). He, however, assured Kenyans the institute vate schools in particular crying foul over what
Chief executive Charles Ong’ondo said the was taking note of the complaints and views they term as exploitation.
new system expects parents to actively par- raised by various stakeholders and taking in- Other top government officials including
ticipate in education of their children, adding ternal research and surveys which will form the KICD Senior Deputy Director Joel Mabonga,
that they are not required to do the actual tasks basis of the first CBC review next year. Ruth Mugambi (KICD) and others from the
themselves but provide the necessary support. “We are taking the comments we are getting Kenya National Examination Council and the
Addressing journalists during a stakeholders from the public seriously. We are also doing our Ministry of Education supported the new sys-
meeting in Naivasha, Ong’ondo said one of the parents are now less involved in parenting and own research because a curriculum is not cast tem.
findings that informed the change of the cur- learning processes due to various factors. in stone,” he said. Despite the challenges being encountered,
riculum from 8-4-4 to CBC was that parents had Some of the reasons include changes in fam- He said KICD was, however, keen not to water the officials maintained that CBC was good
abdicated their role. ily structure, economic changes where parents down the key aspects of the curriculum which for the country and called for the support of all
He said, unlike in traditional society where shifted the country’s education system from the stakeholders.
the extended family and community played a sometimes work for long periods away from knowledge-based to the competency-based. They urged Kenyans to be on the lookout to
home, technological advancement and influ-
pivotal role in the education of children, many “A lot of work is happening but I cannot say avoid falling prey to misinformation.
ence of social media.

child in Grade One, said the cost of the
projects was too high, adding that she was
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to school fees.
GRZQ &%& V\VWHP VD\ SDUHQWV daughter after my daughter passed on and
“I am the only guardian to my grand-
I can tell you some of the things they bring
home as assignments is overwhelming,”
said Nyambura.
She said she has had to adjust her work-
Education CS Magoha has A teacher at ing hours to help her granddaughter with
directed public schools to Moi Avenue assignments.
Primary “The last time she was assigned to make
use projectors instead of School guides a shaker which requires wires, sticks and
printing learning materials learners bottle tops. It was difficult assembling the
during a lesson materials,” she said.
under the new Justus Mwangi, a single parent, said it
by PD Team Competency- is difficult for some parents to help with
@PeopleDailyKe Based assignments owing to pressure of work.
Curriculum He added that some parents do not have
Parents in rural areas have confessed to modelweigh smartphones and or money to fund some
having challenges with some of the Com- down. PD/ of the projects.
petency-Based Curriculum (CBC) assign- SAMUEL KARIUKI
ments given to their children. Covid impact
They also decried “many hidden costs” “We sometimes have to hire specialists
in implementing the new curriculum, to do our projects and we pay them since
“making an already tough financial situa- we don’t have the time. Sometimes the
tion even harder”. child fails to understand the skills we in-
Parents interviewed said the cost of tended to impart on them,” said Mwangi.
printing assignments for their children In Kisumu, parents are slowly adjusting
had turned the curriculum into a burden. “I am sorry I did not go to school but are required to visit a shopping centre, to their new role under CBC but agree the
Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary what I know is we have spent a lot more “preach and take photos of themselves” as cost of implementing it is too high.
George Magoha directed public schools to than it used to be and money is difficult to one of the most “ridiculous”. Janet Oriwa, a parent with three children
use projectors instead of asking learners to get,” Gona said. “This curriculum is very expensive and in a private school in Kisumu town, said
print assignment materials to cut on costs. Khadija Primary head teacher declined too demanding on parents. First, it as- the implementation of the new system
“If there is anything to be printed, let to comment on the progress of implement- sumes all children have both parents or live means parents have to reorganise their
it be projected. It will be cheaper for the ing the curriculum, saying they were under with a parent,” said Joseph Owoi, a parent schedules to attend to their children’s
in Turkana.
instructions not to talk to the media.
teacher to capture it and project and learning needs.
cheaper for parents too. Let printing be “If you need more information please They said implementation of CBC in re- Oriwa said CBC is not only involving to
optional,” Prof Magoha said. get an approval letter from the director mote places like Turkana or Marsabit will parents and children but is also costly.
In Mombasa, many parents protested of education and I will be happy to share not be easy owing to poor network cover- George Kapiyo said parents were finding
the high cost of the system. whatever you need,” the school head said. age and nomadism. it difficult adjusting to the requirements of
Hellen Odipo, a mother of a Grade Five But teachers dismissed claims the cur- Parents involvement CBC. He said most parents were financially
child at Khadija Primary School, said one riculum is expensive. They claimed some Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) constrained, especially with the impact of
of the assignments to her daughter re- parents just do not want to be involved in officials in the North Rift, led by Uasin Gi- Covid-19 pandemic, and could not, there-
their children learning process.
quired her to print copies of pictures of shu branch Executive Secretary Sammy fore, meet requirements of CBC.
mountains. “Sometimes the students are required Bor and his Baringo counterpart Joshua Meanwhile, union officials have faulted
“That time we went to a cyber café and ."(0)" to enquire about family matters, say the Magoha over the directive that public
it cost me almost Sh300. A few days later extended family, but family members are Cheptarus, said CBC is a good idea but the schools use projectors as a cost-cutting
implementers did not foresee the chal-
she came with instructions to print a pic- not ready to show them their relatives. CBC lenges being witnessed. measure.
ture of a mushroom and later a photo of is not that expensive,” said a senior teacher. “It seems they did not consider issues Knut Homa Bay branch chairman Pat-
Adam and Eve,” Odipo told People Daily at *G UIFSF JT On whether they are required to produce such as parents involvement. The govern- rick Were said the directive was ill-advised
Khadija Primary where she had attended a copies of photos and art in print, the teach- as schools were not prepared to use such
parents’ meeting. BOZUIJOH UP ers said it was part of introducing learners ment did not consider teacher training and gadgets to deliver CBC lessons.
provision of adequate facilities related to
“CBC is very good. The only problem is to technology. He said most schools face infrastructure
that the expenses keep on increasing. For CF QSJOUFE Parents in the North Rift also com- the execution of this curriculum,” Bor said. challenges, including electricity, making
In Nakuru, parents cited high costs and
a parent like me who has no stable income, plained they were struggling to imple- inefficiency of CBC and urged the Ministry such a directive difficult to implement.
where will I get between Sh300 to Sh500 for MFU JU CF ment the curriculum due to inadequate of Education to make changes to the cur- He added that many teachers were not
infrastructure. “It seems the government
such expenses every week?” asked Odipo. riculum. They said the system had become familiar with the use of projectors.
Jane Gona said she can’t read and write QSPKFDUFE was not adequately prepared to roll out the
hence won’t understand assignments giv- curriculum,” said Nicholas Koross, a parent too expensive with schools demanding —Compiled by Reuben Mwambingu,
en to her children in Grades Four and Five. in Baringo. projects that require money. Wycliff Kipsang, Roy Lumbe and Noven
Parents cited an assignment where they Veronicah Nyambura, who has a grand- Owiti