Speaker Wetangula Exposes Challenges Stalling CBC Implementation.
On November 27, the government highlighted significant challenges in implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) within the education system.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula pointed out key issues, citing poor communication and ineffective implementation as primary obstacles to the successful adoption of CBC.
Wetangula emphasized that the lack of clarity had hindered parents and students from fully embracing the new curriculum. He noted that education reforms in Kenya had often been experimental but lacked proper communication and planning.
This observation came during a meeting where he hosted Doctoral Leadership students from USIU-Africa, accompanied by Prof. Timothy Oketch, Dean of the Chandaria School of Business. Wetangula called for a comprehensive roadmap to integrate all stakeholders in the process.
Aligning Education with Market Demands
The Speaker stressed the importance of aligning the education system with market needs to drive economic growth. Using Germany as an example, he highlighted how 70% of its graduates specialized in science-related fields, driving their technological and innovative capabilities.
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He urged Kenya to prioritize fields that could propel the nation forward in a similar manner.
Prof. Oketch added to the discussion, addressing the country’s graduate employability challenges despite having over 70 chartered universities. He cited overcrowded classrooms and a mismatch between academic programs and labor market requirements as critical issues.
Oketch stressed the need to enforce existing policies and invest in inclusivity, digital transformation, and strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities.
He also called for emphasis on entrepreneurial skills, digital jobs, artificial intelligence, and robotics to keep Kenya competitive. Agriculture, contributing 60% of the economy, needed to be supplemented with such future-oriented skills.
Wetangula echoed these sentiments and highlighted the necessity of shifting public perceptions about education. He argued that education should focus on imparting knowledge rather than guaranteeing employment.
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He called for fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and equipping Kenyans with digital skills to meet global labor demands and boost employability.
Beyond the education sector, the meeting also addressed the Affordable Housing agenda and the risks arising from gaps in the IEBC’s structure. Wetangula urged universities to enhance research and offer actionable solutions to these pressing challenges.
Speaker Wetangula Exposes Challenges Stalling CBC Implementation.
