Speaking following a crisis meeting with the National Steering Committee, Matiangi pointed out that the process will be gradual with the phasing out of the 8-4-4 system expected to be complete by 2027/JEMIMA MUENI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 3 – Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi says the rollout of the new education curriculum is on course with the second phase piloting for the 2-6-6-3 system set to be implemented in 33,000 schools this year.
Speaking following a crisis meeting with the National Steering Committee, Matiangi pointed out that the process will be gradual with the phasing out of the 8-4-4 system expected to be complete by 2027.
While stating that already 170,000 teachers are undergoing training, the education CS further stated that the sessional paper for the implementation of the process will be finalised in 2018 for presentation to Parliament.
“We have now officially commenced the rollout activities of the curriculum as envisaged in our plan all along. I thank all these colleagues for their commitment and their focus to ensuring that we strengthen the quality of the education of our children, that we prepare and produce man power that will be globally competitive, that will give our children the opportunity they need to excel and realize their potential,” he said.
Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion expressed satisfaction with the process and stated that all teachers and education stakeholders were fully in support.
“The activities that have been lined up for this year satisfies our concerns as teachers that when there will be a sessional paper, the report shall be presented at the Parliamentary committee level and that there will be a national conference to debate it and so it is good that this year has been devoted for piloting in all our public schools,” he stated.
He urged teachers all over the country to interact with the curriculum design to help them be more effective.
He called on everyone to support the process and not be anxious as by the end of the year, an evaluation report should have been developed.
The planned rollout of the new curriculum had earlier been blamed for the confusion witnessed since Tuesday when most parents shunned bookshops in a wait and see attitude with the hope getting clarity on what books they should purchase.
The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) also plans to start hiring at least 12,000 teachers annually to increase the teacher-student ratio that has left a number of schools understaffed.
In a bid to improve the quality of education in public schools, TSC had issued transfer letters to scores of head teachers in national and extra-county schools amid resistance from some quarters including the Kenya National Union of Teachers.
It has however since emerged that most teachers affected by the transfers have complied with TSC directives and have taken charge of their new schools ahead of the reopening.
Over a dozen national schools are expected to open up day streams in line with the government’s ambition to ensure 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools.
All students are also expected to be enlisted under the National Hospital Insurance Fund in accordance with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive.
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