Competence Based Curriculum Here to Stay, says Maghoha
Cabinet Secretatary for Education George Maghoha addressing Essay Writing Winners at Pwani Oil Products Kikambala Kilifi County(Photo By Andrew Kilonzi)
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha says the Government would continue with full implementation of the competence-based curriculum (CBC) despite its criticisms.
Magoha ruled out possibility of an overhaul as proposed by some critics saying such critiques should rather spend their energy on something else.
The CBC is valuable to the learner in classwork performance as well as in lifetime learning.
Magoha said CBC is a remedy to the problems that have bedeviled the country’s education.
“I am fully in charge and my mandate is very clear. I will do my work that I ought to and there’s no turning back. We are not begging anybody to support; our role is to ensure CBC succeeds,” the Education CS added.
He reminded Kenyans that the former education had many weaknesses including rampant cheating and take over by cartels.
Recently, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi filed a matter in court seeking to nullify implementation of new curriculum terming the process ineffective, expensive and inefficient.
The CS lashed at CBC critics when addressing parents and teachers in Kikambala within Kilifi County on Monday of September 20. He wondered why parents rushed their children to private schools only to blame the government later for incurring huge expenses.
He said implementing CBC require support and collaboration of all stakeholders saying parents should particularly be at the forefront.
Attachments for primary graders
And in another interesting revelation about CBC, the CS said the government was considering sending primary school learners for industrial attachment during holidays.
Magoha called on industries to chip in and sponsor learners and Institutions.
“There is nothing that stops a child from getting an attachment from our industries. Our CBC concept aims to identify talents in our children,” said Magoha.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan Government has released sh 9 million for distribution of desks to schools country wide.
Tourism cabinet secretary Najib Balala encouraged the private sector to invest in education for the growth of the sector.
Balala lauded progress of CBC so far.
He had joined CS Magoha in a ceremony that awarded winners of National Primary Essay Writing competition sponsored by Pwani oil in Kikambala,Kilifi county.
Writing contest
Michelle Jerop,a student from Elgeyo Marakwet county, is among the top five winners who participated in the Sawa essay writing national competition.
Pwani Oil commercial director Rajul Malde said the event was a culmination of a national competition country wide in creative writing.
“Over 30,000 students participated in the competition and the purpose was to allow them explore creative writing that will at the end help them change the society,”said Malde.
About 235 scripts made it to the national level but only five of them managed to scoop the national level.
The organization has partnered with public universities to offer internship programs for students in Karatina University and Pwani university.
Mr Malde said: “To us this was not a competition but a platform to tell their stories, and build their creativity.We would be ready to sponsor the similar event for grade 6 and 7 next year.”
Kenya Primary School Headteacher Assocition’s National Vice chairman Mr Fuad Ali welcomed the the writing initiative saying it will improve skills of the learners.
