Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo has said the implementation of Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in schools has brought inequality among learners in rural and urban areas hence violates the law on education as a basic right.
Maanzo said the programme has imposed an economic burden on parents and caregivers who are required to procure learning materials to facilitate learners’ assignments that has made basic education costly.
He noted that parents who do not possess smart phones and rural areas that have no access to the internet cannot meet the demands of the new system.
“Some learners in rural areas cannot study CBC well because of internet connectivity, and some parents do not have smartphones which disadvantage them from those in urban areas yet they do the same exam,” said Maanzo while addressing media at Wote Green Park.
The Senator was speaking after giving his views to Teachers Service Commissioners (TSC) during a stakeholder engagement meeting hosted by the commission.
While welcoming the move from the commission to hold stakeholders’ forum, Maanzo said there was no public participation before the implementation\\ of the programme.
“We are glad that TSC has come to engage and listen to education stakeholders in Makueni who have raised genuine concerns on CBC and I hope the Commission will consider our grievances,” he added.
His sentiments were supported by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Makueni Branch Executive Secretary Benson Ndambuki, saying there has not been enough training for teachers on the new curriculum.
“One week training on CBC curriculum is not enough for teachers to go and implement the teaching in classes,” said Ndambuki
While lauding the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) system, Ndambuki noted that teachers have been facing difficulties in accessing and filling their performance online.
“Teachers in rural areas with no internet connectivity have to travel long distances to cybercafé and some have to queue until midnight to fill the returns which poses security danger to them,” he added.
On her part the commission Vice Chairperson assured the stakeholders that their grievances will be considered.
