There is an expectation that the Kenya Kwanza administration could announce a decision on the contentious Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The fate of the CBC could be decided within two weeks and this could mark a turn in proceedings regarding the implementation of the CBC.
Presentations made to the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) indicate that the hosting of junior secondary schools (JSS) is causing serious concern.
There is a strong push to reverse the decision made by the Jubilee administration to host junior secondary schools in secondary schools.
It has also been realized by many Kenyans that the push to prepare secondary schools to receive the first-ever CBC class in secondary schools has slowed down a little bit recently.
The project to build extra classrooms has slowed down apart from the completion of those contracted under the previous administration.
President William Ruto is set to receive a preliminary report from the reforms team at the end of the month after which he will announce to the public how learners will be transitioning to JSS in January 2023.
The JSS comprises grades 7. 8 and 9 after which learners will proceed to the Senior Secondary level which entails grades 10, 11 and 12.
Hosting JSS in primary schools could be a real problem with primary school teachers at the moment not trained in handling learners at that level.
On Friday last week, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said that the government would adopt the report from the CBC review task force without changing a ‘comma or a full stop”.
Initial recommendations regarding the CBC will be issued to the Head of State in the same month.
More than 3.5 Million Grade 6 pupils are set to undergo a national assessment for primary schools between the 28th and the 30th of November which will run at the same time as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
On Thursday the 10th of November, President Ruto said that learners who are expected to join the junior secondary school will be able to know whether they will study in primary or secondary institutions.
Speaking when chairing the inaugural meeting of his new Cabinet, Dr William Ruto promised to offer “guidance” on the subject based on recommendations from the Presidential Working Party which has been doing an assessment on the Competency-Based Curriculum. (CBC).
Following the Cabinet meeting, the task force issued an update on the assessment.
“The meeting noted that the Presidential Working Party had thus far conducted public hearings in a total of 37 counties. In that regard, the team would conclude the county hearings and thereafter receive oral submissions from stakeholders, including Teachers Unions, Associations, Parliament, and others by the 24th November 2022,” read part of the statement.
Members of the task force have today been in ten counties to collect views from the public. Today was the last day with the task force has spent time in Tan River, Machakos, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Vihiga, Kisumu, Nairobi and Nakuru.
Findings from the task force will be presented to President Ruto who will then make a decision on whether the learners will go to secondary schools or remain in primary schools for junior high education.
At the moment learners have already selected their preferred junior secondary schools. However, many stakeholders in education are of the opinion that junior secondary schools should be hosted in primary schools.
The tender age of learners has been cited by parents as well as the distances to junior secondary schools and issues of learner discipline.
Junior Secondary school will comprise of Grade 7, 8 and 9 with learners proceeding to senior secondary school after that. Senior Secondary School comprises Grades 10, 11 and 12.