The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has challenged the incoming Kenya Kwanza government to handle with care the Education sector.
KNUT Chepkoilel branch executive secretary Sammy Bor says with different views by several stakeholders in the sector over the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum, a lot of care need to be excercised.
There has been calls for the scrapping of CBC from a section of stakeholders including parents over its huge cost.
Even some of the politicians in the incoming government had suggested during the campaing trail that they would scrap the new curriculum introduced in 2017.
“A lot of care need to be taken so that children are not taken for a ride. We are talking about the life of our children,” Bor told Uasin Gishu News in a phone interview.
“The government must be very careful in handling the issue of education,” he added.
Magoha done well
Meanwhile, as President-elect Dr William Ruto works on putting in place a team that will help deliver his pledges to the people, the KNUT official has joined calls for the retaining of the current Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha.
Earlier this week, the National Parents Association chairman Nicholas Maiyo said Magoha should be allowed to oversee the transition of CBC learners to Junior Secondary Schools before he is replaced, should there be need for a new CS in the docket.
It is a sentiment that has been shared by Bor who sits in the KNUT National Executive Committee (NEC).
“Magoha has done well and he is passionate. Bringing in a new person might mess up the whole equation. CS Magoha should remain in that Ministry,” he said.
But an issue of whether to retain CS Magoha or not in his government squarely lies in the hands of Dr Ruto.
CBC transition
Concerning the country’s preparedness for the transition of Grade six learners to Grade Seven, now refered to as Junior Secondary School, the KNUT Chepkoilel boss admits there are still some grey areas.
The first batch of the junior secondary learners are expected to be admitted in January 2023.
There has been ongoing construction of CBC classrooms to host the learners, with at least 10,000 primary, secondary and private schools identified as ones that will have the junior secondary section.
In Uasin Gishu, at least 150 schools will host the junior secondary learners, including all public secondary schools.
“We appreciate the government’s effort to ensure there is a seamless transition. But there are a number of grey areas in terms of infrastructure which we fell may not be adequate to handle the double intake,” Sammy Bor said.
“They have built classrooms and other infrastructutr but they are not adequate enough for high number of students,” he added.
In January, the junior secondary school learners will be admitted alongside the form ones under the 8-4-4 system has has not yet been phased out.
At least a million leaners will be joining both junior secondary and form one in January 2023.
“It is a huge transition that required serious investment,” notes the KNUT official that reprents Rift Valley region to the giant union’s NEC.
Despite concerns from stakeholders, CS Magoha has repeatedly assured that the government is ready for the transition.
