Kenya's education system set for major changes

Written By:Judith Akolo,    Posted: Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The change to the new system is expected to gobble up some Kshs 340 billion per year when implemented The education system is set for major changes that will see an emphasis on instilling national values in Kenyans. The sector which saw the 7-4-2-3 system change to 8-4-4 in 1985 could see yet another change bringing in a 2-6-6-3 system next year. The change to the new system expected to gobble up some Kshs 340 billion per year when implemented, will however depend on an input expected from Kenyans for the next one month before a national conference that will debate the report developed by a task force headed by Prof Douglas Odhiambo. While receiving the report of the task force on the realignment of the education sector to the new constitution at the KIE, Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri noted that the new system will also come with a new curriculum that lays emphasis on instilling national values in Kenyans. Ongeri said this will help in social cohesion and integration in the country. "I wish to never have to sit on another Koffi Annan committee to resolve ethnic differences among Kenyans, we can achieve cohesion through ensuring social integration of young Kenyans throughout the country," said Ongeri at the Kenya Institute of Education auditorium. Chairman of the Task Force that came into effect in February last year, Prof Douglas Odhiambo said the new system will lay emphasis on nationalism while at the same time ensuring that parents, the community and the county governments have greater and specific roles in the upbringing of children in the country. "The 8-4-4 system has been examination centered and has often failed to incorporate the pre-school cycle as part and parcel of the education structure," said Prof Odhiambo and adding "this new system with a new structure and curriculum aims to ensure that parents take up their roles in the upbringing of their children." Among other issues to be addressed by the new education system and curriculum are access and equity, quality, relevance and effectiveness and governance. If implemented the new system also intends to incorporate the pre-school cycle as part and parcel of the education structure and encourage open door opportunities for learners to pursue further education. At the same time, Prof Sam Ongeri has said that parents and candidates who failed to get form one admission in the recent form one selection should not be anxious as the ministry is making efforts aimed at ensuring all candidates who attained 200 marks and above get placement into form one. Ongeri said the Ministry of Education will next week hold a meeting to re-evaluate the selection exercise to identify any deserving cases that may have been left out. "We shall be conducting an exercise to replace all candidates who will not have reported to the schools in which they were selected next week," said Ongeri. PS Prof James Ole Kiyiapi urged parents and candidates to keep their cool as the ministry sorted out any hiccups that arose following the selection exercise. "We tried our best to address issues of equity and hope to achieve the objective of ensuring access by all children to education," said Kiyiapi. He however said that in some cases some parents had decided not to send their children to schools in which they had been selected a matter he noted is complicating issues.