Pumping content of twelve subjects into the heads of eleven year old students of grade 7! This is quite unimaginable especially if the 8-4-4 system of learning was being applied. Luckily, the learning process through the Competency Based Curriculum – CBC is totally different.
It is more about application of knowledge rather than memorizing. It involves more of visible interactions through videos as well as pictures as explained by grade 7 teachers in the Daily Nation of Thursday, 2nd February, 2023. Group work and presentations on lessons learnt is the new learning order. Is this familiar?
This learning methodology brings to mind experiences at the turn of the Century, while pursuing American system oriented university education. Soon after completion of studies, application of knowledge as a routine never presented any complexities. An experience during management and leadership training of the senior team of an insurance organization in 2009, is still very memorable.
At the end of the two day session, one of the team members rose to give feedback. Her statement which became part of our video record of the program is still very memorable ” What the presenter has taken us through is quite familiar to me. That is what we learnt in university, but we didn’t know how it applies in real life. (check https://youtu.be/6VRl8113sZU) The presenter is able to interpret the theoretical lessons and easily demonstrate their application in the workplace and real life too,” said the former college mate. While reveal this training experience?
Our Bottom-Up Empowerment Strategy is well grounded based on what had been earlier observed on the weaknesses of the education system. That is why application of knowledge acquired through the CBC, once appropriately disseminated, is the right direction of the education system.
Meanwhile, the communication in this forum has constantly indicated that the CBC is aimed at transforming the education system into what is expected during this 21st Century. Learning should always be fun rather the punishment presumably meted to majority of the students of the 8-4-4 system.
These perceptions as constantly revealed emanate from policy weaknesses coupled with involuntary contributions from parents and teachers too.(Check our You Tube content @ https://youtu.be/1lt-WuX7PGE).
Upon acquiring our publications, some institutional managers realize that some of the challenges experienced in the 8-4-4 system can be sorted out, thus our continued engagements in different schools spread in different counties.
It is therefore disturbing to learn that students are still burning dormitories as revealed this week. Those revelations bring to mind the experience of one school situated somewhere in the Eastern Region. The first time we visited the school in 2018, they did not demonstrate any interest in our empowerment strategy, as well as the respective tools.
The same happened in the second visit of early 2020. But, when we visited the school in 2022, hell had already broken loose in the school. The dormitories had been burnt down by seemingly deraged students.
This time our empowerment strategy was fully and immediately embraced. That includes our publications and a seminar for all students. Seemingly, the seminar became a counseling session on how students should transform their attitudes, reading culture and eventually acquiring the right focus/strategic direction. Obviously, that leads to reduced indiscipline and eventually, improved performance.
The disrupted school, whose identity has been concealed ended up performing extremely well despite it’s experiences. The mean-grade of 8.211 compared to 8.213 of the previous year was achieved. At the same time 84.8% of students qualified to join university compared to 86% of the previous year. We have so far learnt that the performance in 2022 KCSE improved though we don’t have the exact figures.
Apparently, institutional managers can easily work around sorting out challenges occasioned by policy weaknesses. In any case, the government provides policy framework of the education system, the intricate application details being left in the hands of the institutional managers and their Boards of Management, isn’t it?
FYI
Around 2016, yours truly part participated in a meeting of stakeholders of the CBC. The meeting convenor was the current KNEC CEO, Dr. Njeng’ere. This convenor indicated that educational institutions should involve parents in their empowerment seminars.
That will ensure that parents, teachers and students are on the same wavelength with respect to CBC. But, is that the case so far? Those institutions that have complied may have missed out one aspect of the CBC. Why?
What is largely in the public domain regarding CBC, is the technicalities and infrastructural aspects. The phisophyical aspect carefully and elaborately captured through the KICD approved concept titled “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century,” easily addresses this aspect. The good news is those educationists, who have read the concept keep confirming agreement with the ideas about CBC.
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer Consultant on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Seasoned Trainer of Trainers,
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
- 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 254722516210
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