“Back To 8-4-4 System?” High Court Orders Education CS To Do This Within 14 Days

The High Court has ordered Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to move quickly to address concerns surrounding the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

The directive comes amid increasing public debate over the effectiveness of the curriculum and the financial pressure it has placed on Kenyan families.

Introduced to replace the 8-4-4 system, CBC has attracted criticism from parents and other education stakeholders who say it has become costly to implement. Families have particularly raised concerns about expenses related to learning materials, assessments, school projects and other curriculum requirements, with some calling for a return to the less expensive 8-4-4 system.

Under the court order, CS Ogamba has 14 days to establish a quality assurance commission tasked with evaluating the implementation, effectiveness and progress of CBC. The commission is expected to closely monitor the programme and undertake a comprehensive assessment of its strengths, weaknesses and impact on learners.

The findings of the review could influence future government decisions on whether Kenya should maintain CBC or reconsider the former 8-4-4 education model, which some parents believe was more affordable and easier for households to manage.

With the court-imposed deadline drawing closer, attention is now on how the Education Ministry will implement the directive. The eventual findings could significantly influence the future direction of Kenya’s education system.