By Murugi Ndwiga
The Ministry of Education has launched sweeping reforms to align teacher training with the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework, in a bid to strengthen teacher preparation and ensure effective delivery of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the government is moving swiftly to equip teachers and lecturers with the skills necessary for CBE implementation.
Speaking at the 6th Biennial Education Evidence for Action (EE4A) and EDF-Kenya Conference at the University of Embu, Ogamba underscored the urgency of aligning university curricula and teaching methodologies with CBE.
“With the transition to senior school next year, universities must prepare to train and graduate teachers who can effectively deliver CBE,” he said.
The CS emphasized that learners leaving senior school should acquire employable skills and career interests that prepare them for the job market. He further revealed that the ministry is adopting a data-driven approach through the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), which will track learners’ progress from early years to tertiary education, guiding resource allocation and interventions.
CBC Implementation on Track
The Embu conference, organized by Zizi Afrique Foundation, brought together over 61 universities and education stakeholders under the theme “Revitalizing Education.” Discussions focused on improving teacher education, strengthening professional development, and addressing challenges in research and funding.
Ogamba assured parents that new classrooms and laboratories have been completed nationwide to accommodate Grade 9 learners starting next year. He added that the government will release KSh 17 billion in capitation funds by the end of this week to support schools, with KSh 5.9 billion allocated for end-of-year national examinations.
In addition, Treasury has disbursed KSh 9.1 billion to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to support university and TVET students.
Ogamba reiterated the government’s confidence in the CBC rollout, reminding stakeholders that the curriculum reform, which began nine years ago, will run until 2029 when the first full cohort completes the cycle.
“With continued support from parents, teachers, and stakeholders, CBC will deliver skilled, innovative, and competent learners,” he said.
Call for Stronger Teacher Training
Zizi Afrique Foundation Executive Director Dr. John Mugo stressed the urgency of strengthening teacher preparation to align with CBC. He called for increased funding for the National Research Fund to ensure education researchers are adequately resourced.
“Teachers are the most important assets in education. A good teacher inspires the future of a country,” Mugo said, noting that the conference was timely as the world prepares to celebrate International Teachers’ Day.
His sentiments were echoed by Prof. Siliaka Gitonga of the University of Embu, who expressed optimism that with proper training of teacher educators, Kenya could soon gain global recognition in teacher education.
The three-day forum also saw the launch of the Global Literacy Paper by the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP), which called for structured teaching methods and stronger teacher professional development to ensure children acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills.