Did you read through the write- ups on educational matters this week? Personally, I was influenced to peruse through voluminous content that appeared in the media regarding what is transpiring in the education system. Most of the content revolved around the challenges associated with the Junior Secondary Schools.
Some teachers were interviewed on their ongoing experiences. The most common challenge was the teachers being overwhelmed by the workload especially through the struggle of teaching subjects that are outside one’s scope of specialization, amongst others.
Notably, teachers specialize in 2 subjects but in the JSS, they are left with no choice, but to learn how to cope with subjects outside their scope. Some have to google to find the way forward, while others have to consult colleagues. One wonders whether ALL the students involved are actually getting the value they deserve, especially in public schools.
Other content published has been obtained through interviewing authorities in the Teachers Service Commission as well as well known Professors, who were the pioneer think tanks of the CBC. While one was based in the Moi University, Eldoret, yours truly contacted him sometimes in 2016 or 2017 upon referral by a Kenya Institute of Curriculum Authority.
The latter wanted us to exchange notes or work together somehow. The Professor indicated that he will get in touch when in Nairobi, but that was the end of the communication. Those who have always wondered why yours truly has never been involved in the implementation of the CBC, now have a clearer picture.
Alongside, the interview response that made most sense to yours truly was that involving Dr. Julius Jwan. Before becoming the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Jwan was the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. Yours trully still recalls Dr Juan’s signature of authority, which gave the initial approval in principle, for the concept titled “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century,” to circulate in Kenyan schools, sometimes in 2016.
As such, it has not been difficult for yours truly to be totally in agreement with the perceptions of Dr. Juan, which were published in the Daily Nation of Wednesday 18th October 2023. As he indicated, the existing Education Content has not been changed by the new curriculum – CBC.
What has transformed is the knowledge delivery methodology. In other words, rote learning largely associated with memorizing of lessons learnt, is no longer applicable in the dissemmination of knowledge through the CBC. It is now about how knowledge acquired in class today, is practically applicable in real life.
The question is, what is so difficult in re-tooling the existent teachers on this basis of knowledge application? Why overwhelm those newly engaged teachers charged with disseminating knowledge in the Junior Secondary schools? In other words, what happens to those who have been teaching in Std 7 & 8 classes in primary schools?
More still, it seems that there will be idle teachers in Senior Schools if current arrangements of 3 classes (Grade 10, 11 and 12) only will be maintained. Or will some of them be transferred to JSS to reduce the teacher shortage? Just trying to think outside the box aiming to help in solving some of the hindrances in the transformation of the education system.
Ideally, it is difficult to understand why existing primary school teachers can’t be appropriately re-tooled so that they can cope with the ongoing transformation of the education system. Seemingly, we only need to understand that outside the box thinking may lead the country to overcoming the same challenges, once the students graduate to senior schools in the very near future.
FYI
As the Exam season commences, we are delighted as we wish success to ALL candidates of the 2023 Exams. May they all achieve their desired aspirations.
Meanwhile, those in a number of schools who have benefited from our empowerment strategy in the recent past, through the seminar titled ” Creating the Future Today,” should as usual expect the respective success cards.
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer 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
More @ https://t.co/oOxkhHx8Ch
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