This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 5, 2019, Kenya joined the world in marking International Teachers' Day, a day aimed at highlighting the challenges facing the teaching profession and promoting quality education.
The country is in the midst of a major transformation in the education sector, with the introduction of the competency-based curriculum (CBC), a departure from the 8-4-4 system that has been in place for over three decades.
At the heart of this change are teachers, who are responsible for implementing and assessing the outcomes of the new curriculum. However, a critical question has been whether teachers are adequately prepared for this new system.
The CBC is a practice-based learning approach that emphasizes the role of teachers as facilitators rather than sole dispensers of knowledge. Students are expected to participate actively in the learning process, applying what they learn in class and bringing their daily experiences into the classroom.
However, this new approach requires a significant shift in the way teachers think about their roles, and it is clear that many are struggling to adapt. A recent pilot assessment of the implementation of the curriculum found that teachers and schools were largely organizing the assessments in the same way as national examinations, rather than embracing the new approach.
Ultimately, the success of the CBC will depend on the ability of teachers to understand and internalize the new curriculum. This requires impactful training and a rethink of the approach to teachers' skills upgrade and induction.
Meanwhile, the teaching profession is also facing another major challenge: compensation. Teachers have been clashing with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over poor pay, with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) pushing for improved pay packages.
The government must take action to enhance teachers' compensation and tackle the biting staff shortage in schools. By improving the terms and conditions of service for teachers, the government can guarantee quality learning and ensure that the education sector is equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century.
