Four years to end of KCPE

Pupils seek God's intervention in kakamega before starting their mathematics paper, October 30, 2018.

The release of this year’s KCPE examinations will put pressure on the Ministry of Education as only four classes are left to the end of 8-4-4-education system.

Details of the new 2-6-3-3-curriculum implementation schedule reveal that KCPE examinations will only be done in the next four years.

Sources familiar with the details revealed that as the government fully rolls out the new curriculum up to grade three next year, a pilot phase will be opened for Class Four next year.

Reports, however, indicate that even after piloting, the pupils will not sit KCPE examinations if the roll out plan goes as scheduled.

Pupils currently enrolled in standard four (2018 class), will be the last group to sit KCPEexaminations, which will be done in 2022.

The 8-4-4 system of education has been criticised for wastage as thousands of learners are sieved out of the education system annually due to the stiff examination competitions.

Talents and interests

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has acknowledged that based on previous studies, the current curriculum has been widely criticised for failing to recognise and nurture the talents and interests of learners early enough.

The Summative Evaluation of the Curriculum (KIE, 2009) indicated that the 8-4-4-curriculum content and its implementation was academic and examination oriented.

According to KICD Director Jwan Julius, the current curriculum makes little provision for the recognition of the learners’ potential, gifts and talents due to too much focus on examination.

The new education system guarantees elimination of individualised national examinations and introducing Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs).

All children will transit to next class and career paths – arts and sports, social science and STEM – created at secondary level.