Focus on Curriculum
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Inclusivity / Special Needs Education :
CBC has emphasis on mainstreaming of learners and universal design for learning as indicated in the above framework .
Challenges being faced for effective implementation of CBC .
1 . Lack of well trained teachers on learner centred pedagogical approaches , innovative assessment and ICT skills
2 . Lack of trained teachers to facilitate the newly introduced learning areas
3 . Minimal resources to accommodate high numbers due to100 % transition
4 . Low quality of public education due to poor teacher learner ratio . Currently teacher learner ratio in most primary and secondary schools stands at 1:80 and 1 : 70 respectively
5 . No clarity yet on placement of junior secondary
6 . Less public awareness on learner career progression ( Parental Empowerment )
7 . Lack of enough teachers to handle high numbers of learners .
8 . Inequality in education based on socio-economic status of Kenyans .
9 . Courses Higher learning Institutions are yet to be aligned to CBC .
10 . Attitude and resistant to change by educators
11 . Low level parental engagement and commitment to support the learning process
Suggestions for successful implementation of CBC
It is vital for us to embrace full implementation of CBC . The global view on student learning require a more collaborative approach and innovative stakeholder engagement . For us to reap the benefits of CBC , the author suggests the following solutions for effective implementation of the new curriculum : 1 . Continuous teacher professional development on the 21st century pedagogies , innovative assessment , reporting and research skills in education
2 . Regular ( weekly / termly / bi-annually , annually ) parental engagement and empowerment
3 . Continuous advocacy and public awareness on the benefits of Competency Based Education to the learners , parents , society and the country ’ s future economy 4 . Creation of CBC ambassadors
( Parents , teachers , learners , researcher , policy implementers )
5 . Active engagement of teachers in Professional Communities of Practice
6 . Advocacy of CBC alignment to Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) and Vision 2030
7 . Instead of tablets for every learner , establish ICT well networked centres in schools or shared facilities in every sub-county
8 . Invest more in day schools as opposed to boarding schools
9 . Digitize some of the teaching and learning resources for example course / reference books
10 . Review and align courses in tertiary institutions to CBC
Conclusion
CBC adoption in Kenya gives the potential to the future generation on the establishment and attainment of competencies needed at the job market . The government should envisage the proper implementation of CBC in the classroom to enhance the goals of the curriculum . CBC brings Kenya ’ s education achievement to the global bar on only if the required implementation is realized . Kenya and her citizens need to see CBC through the local and global lenses . Teachers should be involved in the crucial stage of curriculum reform , and their professional development is developed satisfactorily for effective implementation of CBC . Retraining of teachers should be critical in every curriculum adoption . More so , the realignment of CBC into the world view context should be maintained . Any successful education programme should answer the question >>>> how should be the ideal citizen look like , behave , act and most importantly is the ideal citizen productive and self fulfilled ? The success of every individual learner is basically the success of the community . Ideal citizen should be able to deal with common problems like diseases , poverty , hunger , and generally solve the socio-economic challenges facing their communities .
Dr . Otundo is the Director Riara Insitute and Head of Department in School of Education at Riara University .
EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021