Education Cabinet Secretary nominee, Ezekiel Machogu, on Friday, October 21, blamed the incumbent officeholder, George Magoha, for failing to successfully implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, Machogu claimed that the teachers' training sessions conducted before CBC was implemented were inadequate in equipping the tutors with the requisite skills.
Teachers, he argued, were thus left incapable of comprehending the tenets of the new curriculum.
His solution-driven approach thus prioritised retraining teachers to master the CBC basics and improve the system, which parents, teachers and stakeholders perceive to be expensive and time consuming.
Further, the CS nominee stated the task force reviewing the curriculum is expected to table amendments to lower the cost of CBC.
Machogu affirmed his cognisance of the concerns raised regarding the capital-intensive nature of the model.
He, therefore, banks on the recommendation from the task force instituted by President William Ruto to iron out grave issues that will be raised.
"Once I get the recommendations of the task force, we will ensure that CBC is manageable. As of now, parents may not be able to afford certain requirements as indicated in the CBC curriculum," Machogu convinced the Speaker Moses Wetangula-led committee.
"This (President William Ruto's) administration, in particular, does not advocate for costly projects as education is supposed to be free and compulsory," he added.
In addition, Machogu noted that his ministry, in his tenure, would endeavour to review the CBC assessment system to enhance its effectiveness and subsequently guarantee high-quality education.
“I will regulate it to it see what instruments of measurement are used to ascertain the right measurement at that particular level. This is one of the areas that the task force can look at,” he noted.
University Education
On the question of struggling public universities, the CS nominee reiterated the need to pursue alternative sources of revenue to curb the financial crisis the institutions are facing.
Machogu was also challenged to explain how he will deal with cases where past university placements have favoured private universities at the expense of public ones.
"We will encourage universities not only to depend on the exchequer but to look for other sources of income. When the parallel programs were in place, universities did not complain over lack of funds," stated Machogu.
"Actually universities' core mandate is research and innovation. If they invest in it, they will be able to generate income," he added.
