Tuesday 9 January 2018

SCHOOL REPORT: All change

Parents listen intently
It's all change at Happy House School, as in schools across Kenya, as a radical change in the system is rolled out.
Despite fears it is being rushed the new education chief minister affirmed that the second phase of the 2-6-3-3-3 system was being introduced across 33,000 public and private primary schools this term.
The new system will replace the 32-year-old 8-4-4 system.
Schools and parents were caught off guard by the decision to bring the new system into effect immediately, and new curriculum books are still in print/
Mama and head teacher, Mr Isaac, held a meeting to explain to parents how the changes would affect their families and to reassure them that we were ready and able to adapt to change.
This will be the second time the country will be adopting a new curriculum since the 1985 change-over from the 7-4-2-3 system.
The new curriculum has put forward as the ultimate remedy to limitations identified in the 8-4-4 system because it is entirely skills-based.
The 2-6-3-3-3 was piloted in 2017 between  across 470 schools – 10 in each county.
When it is fully implemented, over a number of years, learners will not sit exams but they will be evaluated through Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) on the skills acquired as opposed to cramming for exams.
Experts are of the view that it will enable learners to develop beyond academics and also focus on how best they can use their specific talents to make a living.
The needs of special needs children have also been incorporated in the curriculum which will integrate ICT at all levels of education. 
The emphasis will be on formative years of learning where learners will spend a total of eight years - 2 in pre-primary and six in primary.