New school syllabus to be ready by 2017

Education stakeholders Monday resolved that the new school curriculum being developed must be ready by October, next year, ahead of the piloting phase.

The meeting convened by Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i agreed that the pilot run must start in 2017.

The national implementation of the basic education curriculum for nursery, primary and secondary has tentatively been scheduled for January 2018.

Speaking Monday, Dr Matiang’i emphasised the need for curriculum reform and development of a robust education system that effectively meets Kenya’s socio-economic aspirations.

Matiang’i underscored the need for close working relationship between ministry and key stakeholders. “The education sector must not be left to the Government. It will require partnership as opposed to a bureaucratic approach to ensure the education sector serves the best interests of the country,” he said.

He said the future of the country depends on what is being taught in schools.

“Our positioning of the country depends on the positioning of the education system,” Matiang’i said.

The CS spoke Monday during a meeting with teachers’ unions and associations, parents’ representatives, private schools and civil society groups.

Education PS Belio Kipsang and the Director General Leah Rotich were present Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion and his Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers counterpart Akelo Misori pledged to support the curriculum reforms initiative.

“Education is at the core of our goals and objectives and we shall support the reforms process,” said Mr Sossion.

He also expressed the need for the education reform process to similarly address university education, saying quality education at all levels of education should be the focus of reform.