Parents' role key to success of the new school curriculum

More than anything, the new school curriculum, which is to be rolled out in a couple of weeks in Kenyan schools, offers parents the opportunity to be involved in their children’s education. This is because the basic tenets of the curriculum requires teachers to meet the requirements, interests, and talents of every child, while diagnosing the learner’s needs. The parent is at the centre of learning in school.

Additionally, the fact that day school wings have been started in selected secondary schools across the country as a measure to increase transition rates to secondary school makes the new development a challenging task for Kenyan parents. Having been a high school teacher for some time, and knowing how Kenyan parents work in relation to school and the entire system, it will be important for the government to create a school communication system to aid smooth implementation of the new curriculum. Just like drivers on Kenyan roads who cannot drive safely without being policed, Kenyan parents would need to be 'parented' for smooth implementation of the new curriculum.