Teething problems

But the other speakers challenged Sossion’s assertion, saying the new curriculum was the best for the country and that its implementation should not be deterred by teething problems.

Ms Onyango explained that the new curriculum was developed after it was established that there was a serious skill gap among learners, adding that it would be unfair to abandon the programme on technicalities.

“The major component of any new curriculum is supposed to serve the nation based on our status. We developed the new education system after conducting a thorough needs assessment and monitoring and evaluation of the old curriculum,” argued Onyango.

She said: “Personally, I think we are headed in the right direction. Let us be given time to implement the new curriculum. We should move on with the implementation as we solve the problems that are there.”

Mr Njoroge said they needed time to prepare for the new curriculum, adding that it was a process and not a one-time event.

Ms Githinji said parents were in support of the new curriculum, noting that the new learning system would be a remedy to limitations identified in the 8-4-4 system because it was entirely skills-based.

“As parents, we support the roll-out of CBC, which will integrate ICT at all levels of education. It will also instill good values and moral in our children,” said Githinji, adding that there were few role models in society and it was vital for learners to be taught values at a tender age.

But Mr Wesaya read from a script similar to Sossion’s, as he insisted that due process ought to be followed before the CBC could be implemented in phases, as planned.“It is appalling that we are implementing an illegality. What is so difficult for the people who are sitting around President Uhuru Kenyatta to tell him that we need the process to be done in the right way by passing a policy paper in Parliament first?” he asked.

Wesaya added: “You cannot have a cart before a horse and keep whipping the horse for moving. This thing is not going to get right before we get it right from the beginning. There is need to have stakeholder engagement over the matter.”

The CBC is to be implemented in pre-primary one and pre-primary two (PP1 and PP2) and grades 1, 2 and 3.Responding to the remarks by the panelist, Sossion was firm that the interests of the children was not prioritised before the roll-out of the new education system. He claimed commercial interests were put first at the expense of learners.

Teething problems

But the other speakers challenged Sossion’s assertion, saying the new curriculum was the best for the country and that its implementation should not be deterred by teething problems.

Ms Onyango explained that the new curriculum was developed after it was established that there was a serious skill gap among learners, adding that it would be unfair to abandon the programme on technicalities.

“The major component of any new curriculum is supposed to serve the nation based on our status. We developed the new education system after conducting a thorough needs assessment and monitoring and evaluation of the old curriculum,” argued Onyango.

She said: “Personally, I think we are headed in the right direction. Let us be given time to implement the new curriculum. We should move on with the implementation as we solve the problems that are there.”

Mr Njoroge said they needed time to prepare for the new curriculum, adding that it was a process and not a one-time event.

Ms Githinji said parents were in support of the new curriculum, noting that the new learning system would be a remedy to limitations identified in the 8-4-4 system because it was entirely skills-based.

“As parents, we support the roll-out of CBC, which will integrate ICT at all levels of education. It will also instill good values and moral in our children,” said Githinji, adding that there were few role models in society and it was vital for learners to be taught values at a tender age.

But Mr Wesaya read from a script similar to Sossion’s, as he insisted that due process ought to be followed before the CBC could be implemented in phases, as planned.“It is appalling that we are implementing an illegality. What is so difficult for the people who are sitting around President Uhuru Kenyatta to tell him that we need the process to be done in the right way by passing a policy paper in Parliament first?” he asked.

Wesaya added: “You cannot have a cart before a horse and keep whipping the horse for moving. This thing is not going to get right before we get it right from the beginning. There is need to have stakeholder engagement over the matter.”

The CBC is to be implemented in pre-primary one and pre-primary two (PP1 and PP2) and grades 1, 2 and 3.Responding to the remarks by the panelist, Sossion was firm that the interests of the children was not prioritised before the roll-out of the new education system. He claimed commercial interests were put first at the expense of learners.