The Competency curriculum was implemented in Kenya in December 2017 owing to the numerous shortcomings of the 844 system which was introduced by the late president of Kenya Daniel Arap Moi in 1985.
Among the failures of the previous 8-4-4 system included; the system being heavily exam-oriented and putting all students in one basket including those with different abilities which made it difficult for some students to cope.
What is a Competency-based curriculum in Kenya?
A UNESCO International Bureau of Education defines a competency-based curriculum as an education system where emphasis is put on what learners can do and not what they know.
The curriculum focuses on identifying the potential that every learner brings to the classroom and nurturing the potential through various pathways as the student goes through various stages of their education.
Unlike previous systems where progress was based on winners and failures, the CBC system ensures students learn the core of the syllabus and can identify their interests and subsequently are guided towards those interest areas.
Differences between 844 and CBC curriculum
CBC has various advantages over the 8-4-4 system, we have tabulated the differences between the two systems for ease of understanding as follows:
| Competency-based curriculum | 844 |
| ls Oriented | Exam Oriented |
| Teacher acts as a guide to the learning process | Teacher is the main store of knowledge learners |
| Learner based | Teacher based |
| Students graded based on what they do and how they improve over time | uniform student grading |
| Learning levels divided in smaller slots to reduce drop rate | Monotony due to years in a learning level which promoted student dropout |
| 2-6-6-3 structure(17 years) | 8-4-4 structure( 16 years) |
The competency-based curriculum(CBC) structure in Kenya
The CBC structure in Kenya adopts the 2-6-6-3 approach where students will spend 2 years in pre-primary, 6 years in Primary, and 6 years in Secondary school, and those who proceed to university will spend 3 years at institutions of higher learning.
| Stage | Years |
| Pre-Primary | 2 |
| Primary | 6 |
| Secondary | 6 |
| University | 3 |
What are the 7 core competencies of CBC?
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development identified 7 core competencies that a student who has gone through the basic education in Kenya should develop. These include:
- Communication and collaboration
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Creativity and imagination
- Citizenship
- Self-efficacy
- Digital literacy
- Learning to learn
Preparing teachers for CBC in Kenya
The government of Kenya kicked off a Teacher Professional Development(TPD) program to re-skill Kenyan teachers on how to implement CBC in the classroom.
Four institutions including Kenya Education Management Institute, Kenya University, Riara University, and Mount Kenya University were accredited to offer the reskilling of teachers for CBC. This is a requirement and teachers are expected to undertake the course at any of the accredited organizations above.
Teachers can apply through the following links:
| Accredited organization | Cost | |
Kenyatta University |
Ksh 6000(Payable in instalments)* | |
| Riara University | Ksh 6000(payable in 4 instalments)* | |
| Mount Kenya University | Ksh 6000 (No specifications on instalments)* | |
| Kenya Education Management Institute | Ksh 6000( 1000 on registration, the rest in instalments)* |
*Prices may vary from the date of this publication
How grading is done under a competency-based curriculum in Kenya
A Lot of questions have been raised about the assessment of Kenyan students under the CBC curriculum.
We came across a helpful resource that details the assessment process. Click here to learn more about how assessment and grade transition work in Kenya.
Also, learn more about how teachers can create assessment tests for students in under 10 minutes via the Darasa app.
Conclusion
Competency-based curriculum in Kenya has been received with mixed reactions from various quarters. However, it is influenced by both national needs and international trends.
It equips the future generations with actual life skills they need to be innovators and creators of the future.
What are your views on the implementation of CBC in Kenya? Discuss with us in the comment section
If you are a teacher, review the Darasa app and learn how you can be ahead of the curve in developing assessments for your students.
