We must reassure our children and parents on new curricula

It has been a dramatic year. This was the year that saw opposition leader Raila Odinga swear himself President. Two months later, the opposition icon was shaking hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta on the door steps of Harambee House.

The result was a lull in political temperatures, a respite after two highly divisive presidential elections.

It was also the year that saw renewed vigor in the fight against corruption. For the first time we saw big fish arraigned after getting caught with their fingers in the public till.

But it was also a year that saw the end of the opposition as we knew it. With the March 9 handshake, many Kenyans will be forgiven for thinking we have a lame-duck opposition.

Still, we begin the new year with some uncertainties.

To begin with, no one can predict the next political shenanigan. The dynamics of 2022 presidential succession are already unfolding. Sadly, are witnessing the country gliding into an election mood four years before the next poll.

Then there is this flip-flopping in our education sector, made worse by dark clouds of a looming teachers strike.

Millions of parents out there will be waking up to a new year uncertain whether their children will be on the old 8-4-4 system or the new  2-6-6-3. Our children’s futures are at stake here.  An entire generation is at stake.

We must put an end to this flip-flopping and provide a clear path on what education system the nation wants.

There are those-and they are many-who feel that the new education system is yet another attempt to use our children as guinea pigs for another educational experiment. There are those who feel that the debate on why the 8-4-4 system is not working and why we need the 2-6-6-3 has been politicized.

Whatever the case may be,  parents need to be certain what curricula their children will be following on Thursday when schools reopen. This flip-flopping by the education ministry does not augur well for our children’s future.

Above all, parents need to feel involved in any decision that affects their children. These are their biggest investments.  To keep them in the dark about what to expect in 2019 is myopic. Happy new year dear readers!