CBC will lay foundation for Kenya’s development
Bernard Kimani
Today, the global education systems are shifting from emphasis on knowledge to competency.
This has necessitated Kenya’s adoption of the Competency Based Education and Training approach which is a method of training geared towards achieving competence among learners.
In several countries around the world, debate on the suitable education system has too often focused on quality, structures and delivery methods while largely ignoring the learning outcomes.
The overall goal of competency-based learning is to guarantee that a student acquires knowledge and skills that are essential for success in school, careers, and in life.
If a student fails to meet anticipated learning standards, such a student receives additional instruction and practice and support to help them attain competency.
Undeniably, the Kenya government’s audacious move to embrace Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) has the potential to significantly enhance the achievement of its development goals.
For instance, to achieve the Big Four Agenda, it is important to have a skilled workforce, and this can be achieved through competency-based learning.
Under the CBC approach, learners are subjected to continuous assessment before being awarded competency certification.
This method of learning is market-driven and geared towards providing skills that enable learners to perform given tasks consistently within the expected industry standards.
Accordingly, competency-based learning underpins assessment tools plus learning packages, which are used as guides in delivering and measuring learning results.
This means learners are imparted with competency in areas of specialisation and this in turn will help to drive the achievement of the Big Four development pillars.
Accordingly, CBC will play a critical role in cementing the foundation of development in the country and play a leading role in socioeconomic empowerment for the people.
Indeed, for the Kenya to achieve economic development, there must be considerable investment in human capital that is derived from competency-based learning.
Competency-based learning enhances people’s understanding of their area of specialisation unlike the traditional form of education and training.
Kenya aims to be industrialised nation through accelerated development in the manufacturing field and this feat can be fast-tracked through an education system that emphasises on competency.
Consequently, CBC will help improve the lifestyles of people and leads to other broad social benefits to individuals and society.
Certainly, developed countries have appreciated the importance of competency-based learning as the catalyst for development and socio-economic empowerment and have heavily invested in this form of education system.
It is, therefore, important that as a country we invest in such an education system.
The government must ensure that we transition seamlessly to competency-based learning. Further, the process must be done judiciously so that no schools are left behind.
We must also invest in quality secondary education as this provides a clear enhancement to economic development.
Universal primary education alone cannot achieve development for a county.
Successful roll-out of the CBC is, therefore, very critical to our growth as a country.
Research has shown that people who are exposed to competency-based learning are likely to find gainful employment and are active and productive. —The writer is a communication specialist and a certified public relations analyst
