H.E The President has just declared that there will be no national exam for Grade 6 pupils before transitioning to a secondary school under the new curriculum.
The announcement is part of recommendations made by a task force that was created specifically to resolve issues surrounding the implementation of the new curriculum.
The President made the declaration yesterday during the 3rd National Conference on Curriculum reforms which took place at KICC, Nairobi.
This is the 3rd conference on education standards in Kenya, that has been attended by more than 2,000 delegates from across the country and international organizations.
The new 2-6-3-3-3 Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is set to replace the old 8-4-4 system which replaced the 7-4-2-3 in 1985.
According to the President, education should be able to equip learners with skills much needed in the modern world.
“Grade 7,8,9 should be domiciled in our secondary schools. There will be no examinations in standard 6 to ensure 100 percent transition to secondary schools.” The President said.
“We need an education that is practical and hands-on, education which nurtures creativity and innovation. One that needs to encourage a problem-solving approach to challenges facing our communities.
“We are faced with the fast-paced growth of the global economy that includes rapid shifts in technology which require a workforce with relevant skills and it is in this regard that I’m committed to facilitating the reforms in our education system, ” The President continued.
So, what happens to Junior secondary schools?
Junior secondary schools will now be forced to reside in secondary schools doing away with the examinations to be held in Grade 6 during the changeover.
Also, read Teachers in Kenya to undergo fresh training.
Under the new curriculum, both primary and secondary schools will each have 6 classes. This has made the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) push for classes 7 & 8 teacher elevation due to the change of primary schools cycle to accommodate the change.
In that case, KICD wants primary school classes that will fall vacant in the new arrangement to be converted into junior high school.
These include grades 7, 8, and 9 which are equivalent to classes 7, 8, and Form 1 in the current 8-4-4 system.
