New school system takes centre stage of Transform Kenya event

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion (leftt) CEMASTEA Director Stephen Njoroge(centre)KICD Deputy Director Jacqueline Onyango and Vice chair of Parents Association Sarah Ngithinji during the Transform Kenya forum at Strathmore University 26/2/19-[Beverlyne Musili,Standard]

Debate on the move to a new curriculum took centre stage at the fourth edition of The Standard Group’s Transform Kenya forum.

During the forum held yesterday at Strathmore University, education experts and representatives of parents and teachers supported the phasing out of the 8-4-4 system, saying it had failed to offer children the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the 21st century.

Many expressed hope that the new curriculum 2-6-3-3-3, whose implementation began this year would fix the weaknesses of the current system.

According to Stephen Njoroge, the director of Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), the new curriculum must focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which will be the driver to achieving Vision 2030.

Life skills

He said the new system must shift focus from teaching pupils to get good grades, to teaching them life skills.

“The society is changing, children are changing, therefore our teachers also need to change,” he said.

“We need to change how we teach subjects like physics and mathematics, so that children can learn to investigate and inquire, and later implement these skills in life,” he said.

During the forum, the issue of teachers’ welfare arose with panelists agreeing that dissatisfied tutors cannot offer quality education.

Teachers’ strike

“Teachers’ strikes are not about to end soon. Strikes are a justified constitutional call and are not meant to punish our children. If we as teachers stay quiet, many things in this country will go wrong,” said Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

Acknowledging that teachers and the Government had made considerable strides in ending industrial disputes, Sossion said salaries and other terms of service still needed improvement.

The Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu, in his speech read by KTN Managing Director Joe Munene, said basic education was an important subject for discussion in the country.

“My belief is that this session will help us get more clarity on the role of basic education in the achievement of Vision 2030,” said Mr Lyomu.

The fourth edition of Standard Group’s Transform Kenya is focusing on issues facing Kenya’s basic education, taking into account inputs by stakeholders on the changes necessary to improve the quality of basic education.

Several other challenges were discussed at the forum, including the high rate of teenage pregnancies and the attainment of equity in basic education. Previous editions have focused on matters like health, agriculture and environment.

The Standard Group has partnered with Strathmore University’s School of Business, Ministry of Education, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and CEMASTEA to host the forum.