8-4-4 To Be Phased Out in 2027 ~ Fred Matiang’i

The 8-4-4 system of education will be phased out in the year 2027 according to Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

The system which has been in existence for more than 30 years is set to be replaced by the 2-6-6-3 curriculum that is yet to be rolled out.

The CS has dismissed reports that the new curriculum was hanging in the balance saying that efforts were being put in place to ensure that it takes off.

The system was expected to be implemented on 2nd of January as the new term kicked off but many schools appeared to have no knowledge of it.

Most schools are yet to receive the necessary materials including the new textbooks that would be used for the same.

The government had announced that the new curriculum would be rolled out to include nursery, standards one to three.

The uncertainty, however, still remains as the sessional paper to be approved by Parliament is yet to be presented. According to Dr. Matiang’i, the paper will be completed this year and presented to Parliament.

The CS also announced the rolling out of the second piloting program of the 2-6-6-3 curriculum in 33,000 schools across the country meaning not all schools will undertake the program.

The government through the Ministry of Education is expected to roll out the free secondary education program this year. The ministry is yet to release the guidelines concerning the same and parents have complained of schools already asking for school fees from them.

The Ministry also took over the delivery of textbooks to schools directly as opposed to the initial process where heads of schools procured them directly.

This January, every form one student is expected to receive six textbooks from the government. The books were supposed to have been distributed by 4th of January but publishers had asked the government for an additional two weeks.