Editor's Review

The Presidential Working Party of Education Reforms (PWPER) has issued its verdict on the Competency-Based Curriculum(CBC).  

The Presidential Working Party of Education Reforms (PWPER) has recommended the Competency Based Curriculum(CBC) be implemented but with modifications.

In a report which was submitted to President William Ruto on Tuesday, August 1 at State House, PWPER stated that the curriculum has a great potential to lay a strong foundation for human capital development in schools.

“Findings show that CBC is good for the country; it has great potential to lay a strong foundation for relevant human capital development, which is required for societal transformation and sustainable development,” the report read in part.

PWPER however said CBC should be modified to achieve desired objectives.

“There is significant support for CBC in the country, but there is a need to reform aspects of curriculum delivery and implementation in order to achieve the desired objectives,” PWPER stated.

The task force recommended that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) reduce the number of learning areas not to exceed five in pre-primary, not more than seven in lower primary and not to exceed eight in upper primary.

File image of Students learning in class. 

In Junior Secondary and Senior School, PWPER recommended nine and seven units to be taught respectively.

PWPER recommended the Ministry of Education discontinue the categorization of public secondary schools from the current nomenclature (national, extra-county, county, and sub-county) to career pathways (STEM, social science, and arts and sports science).

The task force also recommended that the computation of KCSE mean score by KNEC be based on Mathematics, English or Kiswahili, and 5 other best-performed subjects.

PWPER further suggested the Ministry of Education with support from the Ministry of ICT to leverage technology at all levels of education by developing ICT infrastructure for curriculum delivery; improve digital literacy among teachers, parents, and other key stakeholders