Majority of Kenyan schools have no
adequate resources in terms of infrastructure to seamlessly implement CBC, says association
of non-public institutions
By James Wakahiu
Private universities want Junior Secondary as
proposed in the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC)’s 2-6-3-3-3 system to be
domiciled in primary schools instead of in secondary schools.
The National Association of Private Universities in
Kenya (NAPUK) says hosting Junior Secondary in primary schools will give room
for primary school teachers who have upgraded to university degree
qualifications to adequately support Junior Secondary and be compensated. Napuk
is also worried that a majority of Kenyan schools have no adequate resources in
terms of infrastructure to seamlessly implement the Competency Based Curriculum
(CBC).
Photo/ Dr. Vincent Gaitho.
In a
memorandum submitted to the 49-member Presidential Working Party on Education
Reform at Chania High School in Thika town, NAPUK said secondary
schools are already too strained to accommodate pupils transiting from primary schools
due to the government’s 100 per cent transition policy that started four years ago.
NAPUK recommends that Junior Secondary be domiciled
in primary schools instead of secondary schools, since the existing Standard
Eight pupils (the 8-4-4 curriculum continuing students) will leave behind
infrastructure that can adequately host Junior Secondary students. The
memorandum is signed by Dr Vincent Gaitho, NAPUK’s Secretary General, who is
also Mount Kenya University Pro-Chancellor. Tertiary/University education.
The association wants the Ministry of Education to
implement policies that will change parents and students’ mindset that geographical
mobility is not the perfect measure of transition from one schooling level to
another. “Embracing e-learning will make
Kenyans appreciate that time and space are inconsequential when it comes to
acquiring an education,” said the memo in part.
According to NAPUK, there are several benefits of
hosting Junior Secondary in primary schools. Primary school teachers who have
upgraded to university degree qualifications can adequately support Junior
Secondary in their current primary stations while university graduate teachers
in primary schools can be promoted and adequately compensated to engage in
supporting Junior Secondary classes.
By doing so, NAPUK says, the government will be
killing two birds with one stone. Given the tender age of CBC Grade six
candidates transiting to Junior Secondary, NAPUK foresees an unprecedented
social disorientation, particularly in boarding secondary schools.
“There could be a risk of social disorder and
mental challenges coupled with psychological disturbance among continuing
Class Seven pupils left behind in
primary school while their juniors (CBC Grade 6) proceed to Junior Secondary
appearing to jump the queue of education continuum,” reads the statement.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Kenyan institutions
of higher learning embraced online teaching with the use of various e-learning
technologies in rolling out classes, examinations and graduations. Today, all
universities in Kenya offer online platforms meant to support students who
are unable to come to class physically.
It is from this experience that NAPUK wants the
government to support efforts to fully digitise these institutions, as well as
enhance Commission for University Education’s Open, Distance and E-Learning
(ODEL) platforms. Among the projects NAPUK recommends to fully actualised ODEL
is by the government ensuring nation-wide internet connectivity. “The national
government can partner with county governments in rolling out internet
connectivity with free Wi-Fi hotspots in appropriate sites and open public
parks,” says NAPUK.
If all the aforementioned issues are looked into and
enhanced, NAPUK does not see the need to introduce and operationalise the Open
University of Kenya, since it will be “a duplication of the already
existing open universities in most Kenyan universities under the ODEL
platform.”
“The introduction and operationalisation of the
Open University of Kenya will be of significant cost on public financing given
the already cash-strapped situation in most government sponsored (public)
universities. The envisioned Open University of Kenya is as good as the ODEL
platform already in place in the majority of universities in Kenya,” the
memoranda adds.
University funding
Meanwhile, to solve the financial woes facing public
universities, NAPUK recommends that the institutions should explore other
alternative income sources and see into it that there is prudent financial management
of all university funds.
The Education ministry’s budgetary allocation for
universities has stagnated over time despite the increased number of government
sponsored students in both public and private universities, especially since
the 100 per cent transition policy was introduced. NAPUK therefore recommends
that placement of students in universities by KUCCPS should be advised by funds
available.
In their memoranda, private universities also want
the government to address the “glaring discrimination” in government
capitation of students, “where students in private university receive less
than half capitation received by government-sponsored students in public
universities.”
