Current CBC Textbooks to Remain in Use for Pre-Primary to JSS Despite Subject Changes — KICD
Learners enrolled in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) can breathe a sigh of relief now that the government has cut the number of subjects and lessons.
According to Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Chief Executive Charles Ong’ondo, instructors would continue to use textbooks issued under the current arrangements for learners in pre-primary through Junior Secondary.
“The new learning subjects’ content will be drawn from current text books.” “Those in class eight will also use textbooks from previous subjects in Junior School because they have already been printed,” Prof Ong’ondo explained.
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He did, however, state that textbooks for Grade Nine will now follow the revised the subject order.
Primary education has been separated into two levels, lower and upper, and the number of topics has been lowered by two at each level.
Lower primary students will take only seven subjects divided across 31 lessons each week. This is a reduction from the current nine subjects covered in 35 weekly lessons.
This means that Hygiene and Nutrition Activities, which are currently separate disciplines, will be incorporated into Environmental Activities with four weekly lessons.
Art, craft, music, and physical education disciplines will now be taught as Creative Arts, with seven lessons planned per week.
According to Ong’ondo, the reduction in subjects will significantly cut the cost of CBC.
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“Parents will now be required to buy only nine books instead of 14. And this alone will significantly reduce the amount spent on CBC. And this was one of the concerns raised under the new curriculum,” said Ong’ondo.
Upper primary students will now take only eight topics given in 35 lessons per week.
Learners at this level currently take 10 subjects divided across 40 lessons per week.
Agriculture and Home Science have been combined into one composite topic called Agriculture and Nutrition, which will have four lessons each week.
And, like in lower primary, Art & Craft, Music, and Physical Education will now be combined into a single subject called Creative Arts, with a total of 7 lessons each week.
The most significant reduction, however, is in Junior Secondary, where five topics have been eliminated. This level’s students will now only have nine lessons.
Integrated Science and Health Education will henceforth be taught together as a single topic called Integrated Science.
Life Skills Education and Social Studies have been combined and will now be referred to as Social Studies.
Pre-technical Studies, Computer Studies, and Business Studies have all been combined into a single course called pre-technical studies.
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Agriculture and Home Science have been combined into one composite the subject called Agriculture & Nutrition, which has four lessons each week. However, other Home Science topics have been incorporated into Integrated Science.
Pre-Technical Studies, Computer Studies, and Business Studies have been combined into a single subject called Pre-Technical Studies.
Physical education and sports, as well as visual and performing arts, have been combined into one subject known as Creative Arts and Sports.
The subjects will be covered in 40 weekly lessons. These students currently take 14 subjects in 45 lessons.
However, there will be no modifications in the implementation of CBC at the pre-primary level because the government will keep the current five subjects and 25 weekly lessons.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang announced the new reforms.
The PS stated in the December 20 circular that foreign and indigenous languages will be taught as non-formal topics and will not be examined.
This means that they will now be classified as sporting activities, with drama and music festivals classified as co-curricular activities.
Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary for Education, stated that the amendments will take effect in January 2024.
The modifications are in response to parent concerns that CBC was overburdening students.
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Current CBC Textbooks to Remain in Use for Pre-Primary to JSS Despite Subject Changes — KICD
