The National Parents Association (NPA) has welcomed plans by President William Ruto to set up a task force that will collect views from the public regarding ongoing education reforms.
Association’s national chairman Nicholas Maiyo says the task force will help address issues surrounding the CBC implementation.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News, Maiyo pointed out that despite CBC being a good education system, teachers had made it too expensive for parents due to unrealistic demands.
“As an association, we agree with the president that we are talking about education transition, cost of CBC and so many other things,” said the NPA boss.
“We welcome the task force as it will assist us to review what has been going on in CBC and what is supposed to be,” he added.
During his first speech as President on September 13, 2022, Ruto said he would set up a task force to review the education system.
“There is a robust conversation that is ongoing on education and in particular implementation of CBC curriculum. Public participation is critical in this matter. I will establish an education reform taskforce in the presidency which will be launched in coming weeks that will collect views from all players in line with constitutional demand of public participation,” Ruto said.
Also Read: Here Is What President Ruto Said About CBC Fate
But According to Maiyo, what is currently happening in CBC is different from what it should be.
“Teachers are asking children to take to schools eggs, hens etc. for cooking practicals which end up at the staff room and the learners don’t even get to taste. CBC was meant to utilize easily available materials and not burden parents,” he said.
Re-tool teachers
To address this challenge, the NPA national chairman says the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has to come up with clear guidelines for teachers, especially on how to handle homework.
“Teachers also need to be re-tooled. They need at least a month of training and not two days as it’s now,” he noted.
The task force expected to be set up will collect public views and recommend on the way forward.
But even as the President works on constituting the task force, Maiyo says it should be made of stakeholders in the Education sector.
Further, he has cautioned against appointing businesspersons as members of the task force.
“We welcome the education reform taskforce and request that it consists of stakeholders in the sector. It is the wearer of the shoes that knows where it pinches If they bring in entrepreneurs they will spoil the whole education system,” Maiyo says.
