The 2.6.3.3.3 system is the new curriculum that is set to replace the 8.4.4 system that has existed for 32 years. In this post, we are going to discuss the top benefits of the new curriculum
The 8-4-4 system was focused on scores rather than the holistic development of children. Children were basically taught how to pass exams and their talents were barely nurtured.
Apart from their talents, there was no talk on how they would live as responsible citizens when they grow up. The new curriculum offers tremendous improvements in the education system.
Benefits of the New Curriculum
Competency-based assessment
Answering questions and getting them right is not the only thing that defines a smart individual. There is so much that goes on in real life that requires you to actually apply the knowledge you learned in school.
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For this reason, the new curriculum is set to change how children are tested. It focuses on testing their ability to apply the knowledge they acquire to perform specific tasks within different settings.
This is very beneficial because it helps to determine the strengths and weaknesses of every child.
For example, a child may be weak in math but can give a very good speech or is a good entertainer. This will help the teachers to steer the pupils in a great direction that focuses on their strengths.
Continued evaluation
The new curriculum does away with summative evaluation. This is the national exams that children take after years of studying such as the Kenya Primary Certificate of Education (KCPE). In fact, this is the last year that children will seat for this exam.
In the new curriculum, children will be subjected to Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs).
This kind of testing is beneficial to children because it will gauge their progress after every stage of learning. It seems unfair to base a whole 8 years of education on a single exam.
That is why the new curriculum opts for continued testing to get a better assessment. Children will be able to focus on a particular stage at a time instead of trying to cram loads of information. This also enables teachers to improve their delivery.
Benefits of the New Curriculum – Life Skills
The new curriculum also focuses on providing children education on life skills. From pre-primary children will learn interpersonal and psychosocial skills.
This is to help them communicate effectively; develop self-management and coping skills and make informed decisions that would result in a productive life.
Children attending senior secondary will be exposed to physical education and community service.
Their assessments will be based on project work, community service and national exams which will involve teachers, parents, and stakeholders.
Parents are included because their involvement is vital in the growth of a child. This empowers parents by giving them an opportunity to be involved in their children’s education. Children get skills they need to compete in life.
Ethical skills
The new curriculum is determined to develop ethical skills in children. Ethics is a very sensitive topic in the country, especially with multiple unresolved corruption cases.
The education system hopes to produce engaged, empowered and ethical citizens. This is so that they can be able to compete and thrive in the 21st century.
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Children will learn what it means to be ethical from a young age. With the involvement of the teachers, parents and the community, they will understand how to live in the real world with good morals.
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It helps to know that the assessments will be competency based and that children will be tested on their understanding of ethical skills.
This is advantageous because they will be the generation that propels the country forward in terms of ethical standards.
Great childhood
Through the new curriculum, children will be allowed to be children. The old curriculum put a lot of pressure on students to pass exams while failing to notice their struggles.
This desire to pass exams is instilled in children from pre-primary to the highest level of education.
With this in mind, they do not enjoy everything that comes with being a child. During the holiday, their parents pressure them to study which increases the pressure substantially.
This gives them no opportunity to socialize or involve themselves in activities that they are passionate about.
Children should be given the opportunity to explore life without the weight of exams on their shoulders. Therefore, this new curriculum allows children to enjoy every bit of their childhood.
In conclusion, the new curriculum requires professional and knowledgeable teachers who can deliver effective lessons such as facilitation, mentoring and coaching. This is to ensure that every aspect of the curriculum is strictly adhered to.
As discussed above, Kenyan children stand to benefit from it. Visit the KICD website for more in about the new curriculum
