History of curriculum review debate in Kenya

The debate on reforming the country’s education system has raged for a long time. Various reports generated by committees commissioned by the Government have always pointed at the need to reform the system to respond to the changing needs of the country.

The reports have also recommended that methods of assessment be reviewed to de-emphasise national examinations that have resulted to cut-throat competition among schools and learners.

In 2001, the Naomi Wangai Task Force on students’ discipline and unrest recommended that a comprehensive system of examination that accommodates and recognises individual talents through continuous assessment be established.

The report also recommended that the Kenya National Examination Council stops ranking of schools and fronted that a credit accumulation system at secondary schools be instituted to allow students dropping out before completion to resume learning.

Similar recommendations are also contained in the parliamentary education task force chaired by David Koech.

The two reports highlighted the gaps and need for urgent curriculum review, attributing students’ unrest to the heavy workload.

 CONTENT OVERLOAD

The documents found that not much have been achieved despite efforts by the Government’s curriculum review agency, since introduction of 8-4-4 system, to reduce content overload.

“The curriculum is too broad and the syllabus cannot be covered within the stipulated time. There is too much emphasis on academics in the evaluation of the curriculum at the expense of physical education and other co-curricular activities, which makes students relax,” reads the Koech report of 2008.

The reports expressed concern that students learn for many years but only sit one national examination with no reference to continuous assessment tests in the previous years. Continuous Assessment Tests were also recommended to be introduced and that they be made to constitute 30 per cent of national examinations score.

The two documents also laid blame on some of the books recommended by the review agency, terming them ‘inciting learning materials that advocate for rebellion.’ And in 2011, the Douglas Odhiambo Task Force report on the realignment of the education sector to Vision 2030 and the Constitution also recommended speedy review of the curriculum.

The report, which attempted to provide some key structural reforms that would cure the challenges facing education sector, is yet to be fully implemented.

Under the recommendations, the task force proposes a new education system, which unlike 8-4-4 that stretches for 16 years, would run for 17 years. It also recommended that practical subjects be included in primary school curriculum and students assessed on them.