This week, our empowerment mission reached Nakuru County, after a long break. We learnt many lessons alongside, but one is certainly worth sharing.
As the 8-4-4 system continues becoming outdated, there are those educationists who are still stuck on the same. This is despite our persistent insistence on the fact that the education system has continued making Kenyans to be mentally in the 20th Century, but physically in the 21st Century, even during this 3rd decade of the same. It becomes inevitable for everybody to start preparing for issues related to the Competency Based Curriculum-CBC.
Indeed, it is ironical for anybody to insist on waiting for the curriculum implementation to reach secondary schools. It is even worse for those waiting for the government to blow the whistle of declaring the illerevance or abolition of the 8-4-4 system. Why do so while CBC is already in Grade 5 of Primary School and only remaining one class, to arrive in lower secondary schools?
More still, who said that those still undergoing the 8-4-4 system are excempted from the philosophy of the CBC? Whereas the technicalities of the CBC may be different from the 8-4-4 system, the philosophy (the why, how, what etc) is not any different. We can’t any more afford to continue living in the 21st Century physically, but mentally in the 20th century.
Basically, the main idea of education in the 20th Century and sadly upto now is for everyone to get educated and eventually acquire a well paying job that leads to success in life. That has not any more been achievable for majority Kenyans. Imagine we are now in the third decade of the 21st Century and still stuck on the same perspectives with regard to students and teaching fraternity!
Inevitably, it is now critical for every education institution manager to start engaging the gear of transition from 20th Century to 21st Century paradigms. We can’t afford to continue asking our future leaders to work hard and get good grades, without helping them understand how that knowledge should be aligned. It is even worse when teachers are in the dark on how that alignment can be achieved.
This year only we have in addition to numerous seminars for students, had 3 Seminars for teachers and have another one coming up for a leading school this September. We can confirm without any doubts that majority teachers are totally misinformed about the philosophy of the CBC, even after having been prepared for the CBC, by the various authorities.
The current concern is; how can teachers fully embrace the new ideas, when unable to understand why and how they were perceived. It is no wonder then that there are two divides. There are those who believe that CBC will definitely fail and are constantly sharing their views in the media and on the ground too.
There are others who believe that the CBC will definitely excel, whatever the teething challenges. In that regard, we continue being thankful to the institutions that have kept embracing our unique 21st Century empowerment strategy, through our seminars for students as well as teachers, and also our publications. Please keep in mind that one of the publications was used for the architecture of the CBC.
The good news is that majority of those who have embraced our empowerment strategy have not only realized how easy it is to improve performance and at the same align careers, but also the critical importance of the philosophy of the 21st Century paradigms. As such, all our future leaders including those still under the 8-4-4 system, as well as their teachers need to have clear understanding of the direction of the education system, don’t they?
FYI
We have constantly kept observing that only 10% of teachers became so by choice. In total only about 50-60% eventually became passionate about teaching.That means about 40-50% dispassionate teachers could be undergoing punishment in life, isn’t it?
Last week, I met a niece, who is currently in class 8. Upon enquiring what she planned to become upon finishing school, she quickly indicated that her choice is to become a secondary school English teacher. That is quite a rare answer compared to those obtained while conducting seminars. The girl earned herself our book titled ” The 21st Century Student; Are you Creating the Future Today?” at least for now. We will keep monitoring the girl’s perceptions.
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach
Seasoned Speaker/Consultant Trainer on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Competency Based Curriculum-CBC Architect
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life
3. The 21st Century Student:Are You Creating The Future Today? Also, Retired 5 Year Monthly Strategy Columnist (2013 – 2018) for The SME Today Magazine Phone 254772516210
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