Page 17 - EdSource Issue No02

Focus on Curriculum 17

developed by the individual commissions and several taskforces increasingly widening even with
throughout his/her entire life. Key to reform the education system to CBC in place. CBC emphasizes on
competences are responsible for meet the country’s social, political seven core competencies, which
individual success throughout the and economic needs. Most recently, are:
entire life, and to the good global in 2017, the government embarked
functioning of the society derived on the most comprehensive • Communication &collaboration
from the action of particular education reform since 1981, which • Critical thinking & problem
citizens. Professional competences has seen the introduction of the solving
(Proficiencies): linked to Higher Competency Based Curriculum • Citizenship
Education, they are associated (CBC). The aim of the CBC is to • Digital literacy
with effectively performing certain guarantee basic education for • Creativity & imagination
professional tasks. They involve every learner according to their • Learning to learn
the capacity to solve complex abilities and needs. Education • Self-efficacy
professional questions, by reforms emphasize that all
mobilizing scientific knowledge and children, especially those from The emphasis on values and
technical abilities, and respecting marginalized groups and those community service learning
ethical considerations typical of with disabilities, should have access cannot be underscored in CBC.
that particular profession. to quality education. Despite these Similarly parental engagement and
reforms, challenges related to empowerment is a key component
Education Reforms in Kenya: access, equity, quality, relevance of CBC. Previously much of the
student management has been
Central to the education reforms, and efficiency in the management weighing heavily on the teacher
Kenya has been establishing an of education resources are yet with a parent offering the most
education system that addresses to be adequately addressed. minimal support to the learning
relevance, equity, inclusion and Furthermore, implementation process. Tripartite approach to
elimination of wastages among of the CBC has been marred by learning in which the learner,
graduates. One of the challenges uncertainties, as it is increasingly teacher and parent are fully
of education in Kenya is inequality, becoming evident that the reforms engaged with the learner being
which means that those from may not necessarily close the the centric point is a strong basis
low socio-economic backgrounds equity gaps. Unfortunately if not for learner’s success.
have difficulty accessing quality intentionally checked, the gap
education. Since independence in inequalities in education is
(1963), Kenya has constituted six

Pillars, Mission and Vision of CBC:
CBC draws its strength on the pillars
that include values, theoretical
approaches, core principles and the
National goals of education so as to
nurture every Learner’s Potential and
release a lifelong learner (Engaged,
Empowered and Ethical Citizen).

CBC framework emphasizes on the
National goals of education which are:
1. Foster nationalism, patriotism and
promote national unity
2. Promote social, economic,
technological and industrial needs
for national development
3. Promote individual development
and self-fulfillment
4. Promote sound moral and religious
values
5. Promote social equality and
responsibility 8. Promote positive attitude towards good health and environmental protection
6. Promote respect for and
development of Kenya’s rich and What are the major shifts from the previous curriculum?
varied cultures In the envisaged knowledge economy, it is important to embrace what learners
7. Promote international are able to do with the knowledge they acquire in the classroom. Linking academia
consciousness and foster positive to industry and real world experience is key for the learners to fit into the fast
attitude towards other nations changing world. CBC envisages the following shifts:

EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021