You know what they say – change is the spice of life, and our education system is about to get a hefty dose of it. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is waving its magic wand and merging subjects in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for primary and secondary school. It’s like that moment when your favorite flavors blend into an unexpected, but delightful, combo. Let’s dive in and see what’s cooking!
In the world of primary school, subjects like home science, health education, and integrated science are gearing up for a fusion dance. Imagine them as separate ingredients in a recipe – KICD’s thinking is to mix them up into one flavorful concoction. It’s like having a pizza burger with a side of ice cream – an exciting twist, but will it tickle the taste buds of our young learners?
Now, let’s talk about social studies and life skills. They’re like two peas in a pod, right? Well, KICD is giving them a nudge closer by suggesting they hold hands and merge. Just picture it – history and practical know-how joining forces in the classroom. Who knows, maybe our future historians will know how to cook a mean omelette and balance a checkbook at the same time!
The grand idea behind all this mixing and merging is to lighten the load for students. We all remember lugging those heavy backpacks, right? The Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms proposed a slimming down of subjects. Lower primary subjects are going from nine to seven, upper primary from 12 to eight, junior school from 14 to nine, pre-primary will have five, and senior school will stick with seven.
Charles Ong’ondo, the mastermind behind this curriculum evolution, said they’re not just randomly throwing subjects in a blender. No, no! They’re carefully looking for subjects with a common thread and wrapping them in one package. It’s like building a multi-layer cake – each layer brings something unique to the table, but they all blend together for a delightful treat.
But hold your horses, there’s more! KICD is tossing a cherry on top – they’re suggesting that the ninth subject becomes optional. So, it’s like having an extra topping on your pizza; you can choose whether you want it or not. It all depends on what tickles your fancy and where your strengths lie. Talk about tailor-made learning!
And let’s not forget about the junior secondary school squad. They’re in for some surprises too! The team at KICD is brainstorming on which subjects will join the optional party. It’s like choosing your party invitees – only the most interesting and resource-friendly ones get in. They’re not just looking at what’s cool; they’re also sizing up how much elbow grease each subject requires.