Universities Not Yet Ready For CBC Learners – Prof James Kiama
Learners enrolled in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) education system have suffered yet another major setback, with public universities revealing that they are not ready to enrol them.
Prof James Kiama, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, stated on NTV Tuesday night, February 16, that the first batch of CBC students will bear the brunt of their lack of preparation when they begin university.
He believes that while introducing CBC is a good idea and a less expensive system for students, preparing universities in the country to accept the students is a major challenge.
Kiama explained that using the 8-4-4 system as an example, CBC learners will face setbacks in their curriculum at the university level unless the government works with institutions of higher learning to prepare early.
Kiama said that because the number of years has been reduced, it will be a little cheaper for students adding that they must now reconsider the curriculum they have been teaching for four and five years, and cut down on that.
“They are coming in 2029, we have seven years to prepare but given the experience we had with the 8-4-4, we might have a little problem. The university community needs to start thinking about this.”
His sentiments were echoed by Medina Halako, who explained that the pandemic and other factors had had a significant impact on the education sector.
She stated that these factors had disrupted CBC and that the 7-year time frame was insufficient to plan for the learners’ arrival.
“At the moment, Universities don’t have a structure to receive the CBC lot when the time comes. We have 7 years to prepare,” Halako explained.
She did, however, express her support for the CBC education system, stating that it was extremely beneficial to students from underserved communities.
“CBC came at the right time because we needed to tap talent from our children. It presented an opportunity for kids from marginalised communities learning under trees,” she stated.
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The two academics’ comments come just days after the Ministry of Education announced plans to replace the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) with a new system that will cost taxpayers millions of shillings.
According to Fatuma Chege, Principal Secretary, the current system does not meet the CBC’s requirements. According to the PS, the new curriculum is complex and requires a system to track students’ academic performance from pre-school to university level.
Education PS Sabina Chege
Universities Not Yet Ready For CBC Learners – Prof James Kiama
