James Muhuthu thinks economics is a great course; if only it were his first choice. "I did everything that was expected in high school," says James. He scored all A's and was called to Kenyatta University to pursue economics, which he has never practised since graduating.
"The current system leaves the responsibility to choose university courses entirely on the student. Each high school should have a career office tasked with helping students identify courses that align with the careers they would like to pursue," says James.
Akello Misori, the Secretary-General Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers - KUPPET, the Competence-based curriculum aims to solve the apparent wastage of resources, time and talent.
"When teachers notice early enough that a student is poor in STEM subjects, but excels at athletics, why waste the student's time and talent trying to force him to master Chemistry for years?" poses Akello.
"Why not let those who excel in Chemistry shine in the science, and let those who excel in sport represent there?" "All children are gifted differently, and it is a great injustice to gauge them through one lens," he says.
"We subject students to cutthroat competition, turning education into a profit-making venture and a place where dreams and talents come to die," says Akello.