REPUBLIC OF KENYA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Thursday, November 14, 2024
PRESS STATEMENT
(For Immediate Release)
STATUS OF COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
The Ministry off Education is deeply concerned about a statement by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops issued today; particularly as it regards the education
In the statement, the Catholic Bishops allege that the current Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is “Crumbling” while there are unresolved issues on the “university loan scheme”.
The Ministry wishes to clarify as follows:
1. Competency Based Curriculum
a) The roll out of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) began in 2017. CBC emphasizes nurturing learners’ potential, national values (to develop empowered and ethical students), integration of science, technology, and innovation, and to ensure that skills taught in our education institutions match the requirements of industry.
b) The merits of CBC and its structure have been subjected to extensive stakeholder consultation and public participation. These included the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops who participated in the work of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (the Working party).
c) The learning areas have been rationalised as recommended by the Working Party. Junior School has been domiciled in existing primary schools, which decision was supported by over 93% of the submissions to the Working Party. The function of the Kenya primary School Education Assessment has now been defined as being for monitoring learners’ progress. The Government is providing capitation for Junior School learners at the rate of KSh. 15,042 per learner per year.
d) At present, we are preparing for Grade 9, the final year of junior School. This follows two successful transitions across Grades 7 and 8. Both Grades 7 and 8 were provided with core textbooks at the ratio of one book per learner. The distribution of textbooks for Grade 9 started On 23th October, 2024,
e) In terms of infrastructure, the construction of the 16,000 classrooms required for Grade 9 is at an advanced stage. The Government has allocated a total of Ksh. 17.6 Billion for the completion of these classrooms by December, 2024. The construction is decentralised to the schools, thereby creating economic opportunities at the grassroots.
f) The Government has also employed a record 56,950 teachers for Junior School. A total of 46,000 intern teachers will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms by January, 2025. A further 20,000 teachers are being recruited and will be in place by January, 2025.
g) The Government has, therefore, taken proactive measures and invested heavily to ensure that the noble objectives of CBC are achieved through seamless implementation. This, therefore, can hardly be described as “crumbling?.
2. Higher Education Student-centered Funding Model
a) The Introduction of the Student-Centred Funding Model followed recommendations by the Working party. Since it was rolled out in 2023, the Model has eased the financial burden in universities, which had been indebted to the tune of Ksh. 70 Billion, with many technically insolvent.
b) Under the Model, the Government has disbursed upwards of Ksh. 41 Billion to universities in loans and scholarships to the two cohorts of students since 2023. The funds are disbursed based on the level of need of each student.
c) To ensure the model is improved further, His Excellency the President Dr. William Samoei Ruto has appointed a National Working Committee to collate views from the public to refine the model.
We request our Catholic clergy not to condemn a whole education system that has over 11 million learners.
Julius Migos Ogamba, EBS
Cabinet Secretary
