KICD rationalised learning areas under CBC
KICD rationalised learning areas under CBC
In order to reduce duplication and overlaps, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms had advised the Ministry of Education to rationalize the number of learning areas throughout the several levels of basic education.In accordance with the recommendations of the KICD Act, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development conducted the required consultations and proceeded to rationalize the learning areas in accordance with its legislative responsibility.
Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, presented the rationalized learning areas to Parliament on Wednesday along with a report that covered other important topics, including the state of exam preparation.
According to Machogu, the learning areas for PP 1 and 2 in pre-primary school would remain the same.The study stated that while there are now five (5) learning areas at this level, they will stay that way until a review is conducted.According to the CS, the number of learning areas in Lower Primary, which covers Grades 1 through 3, has been lowered from eight to seven.Along with the Pastoral Programme of Instruction, he claimed that there will be a weekly reduction in the number of lessons from 35 to 31.
The number of study areas for upper primary school students in Grades 4 through 6 will drop from 10 to 8.”A Pastoral Program of Instruction will be included in the reduction of the number of lessons from 40 to 36 per week,” Machogu stated.
The number of learning areas in junior school will drop from fourteen to nine. Lessons per week, including the Pastoral Program of Instruction, have been cut from 45 to 43.There are now just seven learning areas in Senior School.”Nonetheless, after the Junior School process is over, the Senior School curriculum designs will be finalized,” Machogu stated.
The Working Party advised that KICD rationalize the learning areas after noting comments from stakeholders about the high expense of the curriculum and the high number of learning areas.Charles Ong’ondo, CEO of KICD, stated that some individuals had expressed worry about the Competency-Based Curriculum’s proposal to eliminate some courses and learning areas.
According to Ong’ondo, several individuals were concerned that learners would have less options when selecting subjects for their professional routes if specific learning areas were eliminated.On August 10, Ong’ondo stated that the institute was rationalizing its learning areas rather than eliminating them in an interview with Citizen TV.
“I want to reassure everyone in the nation that, contrary to what some have claimed, we are not eliminating or abolishing educational sectors. He stated, “We are rationalizing.”According to the head of KICD, one approach the institute is using to streamline the curriculum is to combine linked strands and sub-strands from different learning areas into a single learning area.”When you look at a junior high subject like health education, you find that there is a lot of overlap between some of the problems we address there and those that fall under the purview of science as a whole,” he remarked.
He stated that it is preferable to modify certain learning areas in other areas rather than eliminating them entirely.This ensures that learners retain the essential competencies they should possess. Additionally, it guarantees that students are still receiving enough exposure to enable them to select the precise job paths they desire, according to Ong’ondo.
