Kenyan Teachers Handed More Powers Over Children’s Future

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has handed more powers to teachers over your child’s career in the future in sweeping reforms in line with the Competency-Based-Curriculum.

According to Magoha, teachers will monitor students and guide them on subject and career choices. Teachers will also encourage learners to embrace creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

This now gives the teacher a say in what a child becomes after school as opposed to the current scenario where rote learning and passing of exams are the major determinants of a learner’s career path.

The Ministry of Education has further introduced a tracking system where teachers will closely monitor the character and behavior of students. Magoha believes the system will work towards curbing unrest in schools, especially after an upsurge in criminal activity in institutions.

According to the new changes on the administration of primary school-based assessments, which will account for up to 60 percent, a child’s future will not entirely be on academic performance.

Assessments to be conducted at primary and secondary levels will not only bear academic performance of the children, but also the overall growth of the child with clear markers for extra curriculum strengths as well as academic biases.

Under the old system, the main role of teachers was imparting knowledge through the syllabus and ensuring that the curriculum is well covered.

Teachers were also tasked with drilling students to be prepared for sitting national exams. The task force which proposed the new curriculum said that most students ended up half-baked with little practical skills.

At senior secondary schools, teachers will now play critical roles in identifying and nurturing learners’ talents under the three pathways of arts and sports science; social sciences; or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The pathways are expected to exploit learners’ imagination, creativity, solve problems, use critical thinking and apply digital literacy, among other aspects.

To ensure that Magoha’s directives are implemented, the CBC task force proposed a new model to monitor teachers evaluate those seeking Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employment

As the rollout of the new curriculum begins, the next four years will be crucial for the Government to lay out an elaborate plan to facilitate a smooth changeover from 8-4-4 system to the competency-based curriculum (CBC)