Magoha assures all set for CBC rollout in Grade Four today
It is all systems go for the national rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Grade Four this morning even as parents made last preparations ahead of the opening of schools.
The government assured it is ready for the school re-opening and in particular the rollout of CBC in the Grade as it has distributed Grade Four books to almost 98 per cent of public primary schools.
Education Cabinet secretary George Magoha also assured that all is set towards successful rollout and has been categorical that it will continue in a well organised, systematic and highly professional manner to ensure all children get quality education.
“I want to assure the country that Grade Four is ready to be rolled out, books distribution is now at 98.8 per cent and by today we will be approaching the 100 per cent mark,” he assured.
He said there were some book distribution challenges owing to logistical nightmare brought about by the heavy rains that had been pounding several parts of the country, which has interfered with delivering.
Magoha’s assurance comes as yesterday, parents and guardians were still rushing against time to buy required school items.
In most outlets, parents had to contend with long queues and high prices of school uniform and stationery as they did the last-minute shopping.
A spot check in various towns showed parents desperately trying to secure children’s school requirements while at various bus terminus the parents coming from upcountry were forced to wait for hours for transport.
Last month, in readiness for the Grade Four rollout, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) trained additional teachers. The commission trained 106,320 teachers in preparation for the CBC Grade Four rollout, which included 7,000 Special Needs Education teachers and 18,000 teachers from private schools.
Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) chairman Lawrence Njagi said as much as Grade Four books were not being distributed to private schools, deliberate plans have been put in place to ensure there are adequate books in bookshops.
“There are enough books in bookshops to ensure that parents with children going to Grade Four access them and at an affordable price,” Njagi said, as he assessed the flow of books in various outlets in Nairobi.
He also dismissed claims that the books were too expensive saying the prices were set in accordance with the presidential call to make all books affordable for all.
He said the CBC books are ranging from Sh240 to Sh400 as opposed to up to Sh600 previously, even as he stated that a majority of public schools have received books, save for a few in West Pokot and Turkana due to poor road system.
Some of the areas to be covered in Grade Four are Maths, English, Science, Kiswahili, Home Science and Physical Health among others. And as schools resume, head teachers are optimistic that the government will disburse capitation monies in good time to allow for smooth running of activities.
The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman Nicholas Gathemia yesterday said although the monies had reached school as at yesterday, they are optimistic that there will not be much delay as has been the case in previous terms.
Disburse money
“It is my sincere hope that the ministry will this time keep its word and aptly disburse the money to schools. The ministry should ensure that the latest schools receive capitation funds is by end of this week,” he said yesterday.
It is also a term that will see unions seek to have their grievances addressed, in line with Employment and Labour Relations Court’s directive and for the sake of peaceful industrial relations and to allow learning to continue without any form of disruption.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Wilson Sossion said the court directed them to iron out issues with TSC by December 24 but the latter has been non-committal.
It is against this backdrop that Sossion said yesterday that the union is planning to go back to court to file contempt charges against TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia.
