CBC Proposal Cuts Down Number of Subjects for Students
The reduction in the number of learning areas for pupils suggested by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) is a favourable change.
A significant reduction in the number of disciplines taught in CBC elementary and secondary institutions has been suggested by the team.
Students in grades 1-3 were obligated to enrol in up to eight subjects under the original CBC framework. Ten disciplines were required of upper primary students.
English, Kiswahili, mathematics, integrated science, health education, pre-technical education, pre-career education, social studies, religion, business studies, agriculture, life skills, sports, and physical education are among the 12 subjects junior secondary students must take.
Elective subjects include the visual and performing arts, domestic science, computer science, foreign languages, Kenya Sign Language, and indigenous languages.
Foreign languages
Notably, some of the suggested courses under the original CBC structure have not gained popularity, including Mandarin, French, and German, because there aren’t enough teachers or educational resources to enable their adoption.
Parents who complained about the expense and the overburden of the students attributed a large part of their unhappiness and fury to the sheer quantity of subjects.
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In terms of scope, integration of subjects within a learning area, gaps, content overload, overlaps, and promotion of community ties, the committee has suggested that the number of learning areas be reduced.
The proposal keeps the five courses that are currently taught in pre-primary school.
The English language, mathematics, the environment, psychomotor and creative development, and religious instruction are all included in these activities.
The team has suggested lowering the number of subjects in lower elementary, or courses between Grades 1 and 3, from eight to seven. The prior list of ten mandatory subjects may be chosen from by students in Grades 4 through 6 (or upper primary).
CBC Proposal Cuts Down Number of Subjects for Students
In the past, English, Kiswahili, math, home science, agriculture, science and technology, religious education, creative arts, physical and health education, and social studies were all subjects that pupils had to take.
The group has suggested limiting junior secondary students to nine disciplines. In senior secondary school, students will only take seven topics, depending on their course of study.
The task force requests that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) swiftly rationalise the learning areas if the draught recommendations are incorporated in the final draught.
In order to accommodate curricular design modifications, KICD will be obliged to conduct an examination of the Basic Education Curriculum Framework (BECF) within six months.
In order to guarantee that each school receives the top two rated textbooks, KICD will also need to create criteria on textbooks and curriculum support materials within a year.
