The Ministry of Education has rejected the proposal from some stakeholders to relocate the final grade of the CBC to secondary schools. This decision implies that the first cohort of students under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) will stay in their existing schools as they move to Grade 9 next year.
The Education Permanent Secretary acknowledged the challenging nature of the transition, revealing that they have begun building 16,000 classrooms to house Grade 9 students. This indicates that the government has eight months to get ready for the shift.
He reassured the public that the ministry will meet Kenyans’ expectations, confirming that there will be no alterations to the junior secondary schools currently located within primary school premises.
“The definition of junior schools is Grades 7, 8 and 9 and we are not about to change that because we do not even have any way or a window to change it.
“If 93 per cent of Kenyans said it, then how can we wake up in the morning and have something else? It is not anything in discussion, Grade 9 will be in the current place that junior school is domiciled and we all know where that is,” said the PS.
He delivered the comments at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) during the stakeholder engagement on the senior school curriculum.
KICD Chief Executive Prof Charles Ong’ondo clarified that the CBC framework is grounded in cognitive developmental theory. He outlined the basic education structure as follows: two years in Pre-Primary, six years in primary, three years in junior school, and another three years in senior school, hence forming a 2-6-3-3 structure.
The PS also mentioned that Grade 9 will feature both formative and summative assessments, similar to the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in Grade 6. He emphasized that assessment at Grade 9 won’t hinder learners’ progress, noting that only at Grade 12 will assessment serve both placement and certification purposes.
Additionally, at Grade 12, students will receive a certificate, which will prepare them for advancement to the next level or for transitioning into certain aspects of life.
Kipsang highlighted that the stakeholder engagement will address various issues, including the transition of learners from Grade 9 to senior school, encompassing Grades 10, 11, and 12, focusing on pathways and placement methods.