KICD to Develop Market-Oriented Curriculum for Senior School
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has received a challenge to formulate a curriculum for Senior School (SS) that aligns with the Kenya Kwanza government’s focus on job creation.
Simon Gicharu, the Chairman of the KICD Council, emphasized the need for curricula to be in sync with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation (BETA) model, particularly targeting youth employment.
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Speaking at an induction workshop for senior management, Prof Gicharu highlighted the council’s role in approving curricula to ensure they meet international standards for application in basic education and teachers’ training in Kenya.
He urged the management to introduce market-oriented courses like marine science, aviation science, and foreign languages, such as German, French, and Mandarin, at the senior school level to empower and accelerate youth growth.
The Basic Education Curriculum Framework (2017) outlines three career pathways in Senior School—Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
The chairman stressed the importance of conceptualizing the Senior School curriculum effectively before university uptake, especially for students pursuing the Technical Studies track, which provides dual certification.
Charles Ong’ondo, the Chief Executive Officer of KICD, described the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) as dynamic and aligned with global needs. He emphasized that CBC aims to expose learners to evolving job market demands.
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Gicharu emphasized the significance of planning, financial management, and governance as critical pillars for organizational success during a retreat in Mombasa.
KICD, as the sole government agency responsible for developing, reviewing, and approving curricula, has completed the review of curriculum designs up to Grade 10 in line with the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) recommendations.
Ong’ondo assured the public that the CBC quality remains intact, addressing concerns about curriculum changes. Curriculum implementers are encouraged to access and utilize the designs shared with various educational organizations, including teachers’ unions, to interpret and arrange strands and sub-strands effectively.
KICD also adapts curriculum designs for Special Needs Education (SNE) learners, including those who are Visually Impaired (VI), Physically Handicapped/Impaired (PI), and those with Hearing Impairment (HI).
The institute has reviewed adapted designs for SNE learners at different levels.
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The PWPER report recommended a specific number of subjects for each education level, with Senior School (Grade 10-12) suggested to have not more than seven (7) learning areas, a proposal that KICD is expected to approve in late February 2024.
KICD to Develop Market-Oriented Curriculum for Senior School