• The government of Kenya introduced the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), doing away with the 8-4-4 education system.
• Universities and colleges are next to begin implementing the new curriculum following its successful implementation in primary and secondary schools.
• St. Paul’s University Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Kombo, told TUKO.co.ke that university education is also changing in line with the dynamics of the job market.

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia has over five years of experience in financial, business and technology journalism and offers in-depth insight into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Many Kenyan universities and colleges are adopting new learning approaches that emphasize online, competency-based curriculum (CBC). courseblended learning and personalized learning experiences.

By adapting to different learning styles, these strategies seek to improve student engagement.

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In addition to a focus on practical skills and real-world applications, technology integration in education is also common.

What universities are doing to adopt CBC

In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke Education experts explained why peer learning, teamwork and active engagement in the educational process are increasingly valued by educational institutions.

The Vice-Chancellor of St. Paul’s University, Professor James Kombo, has revealed that unlike in the past, where university education was highly valued, it has become less prestigious to go to university. Few people are willing to dedicate four years to studying a course that is no longer marketable.

As a result, many universities are changing their curriculum, with some collaborating with the private sector to prepare lessons on demand.

“As the world faces many challenges related to climate change, courses such as ecotheology, for example, which focus on the concept of sustainability, have become marketable,” Professor Kombo said.

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Which courses are marketable?

Ecotheology encourages the coexistence of Science and Faith, as well as the consumption of natural resources in a way that ensures that they are not depleted for the benefit of future generations.

“We have divided Science and Faith because of a mistaken view that the world is secular but in reality they can go hand in hand. When you find the nexus where the two coexist, you can come up with holistic solutions to man’s problems,” he said.

Development studies, which cover issues related to poverty eradication, economic empowerment and peace, have also become marketable as world grapples with these questions.

As religious divisions resurface, courses such as Christian-Muslim Relations, which seek to harmonize the two religions, have also become popular.

Why universities are adapting to CBC

Professor Kombo emphasized that curriculum modification has become particularly crucial as higher education institutions prepare to admit students who will be transition from competency-based curriculum (CBC) in 2029.

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“CBC is completely different from what we did before; therefore, we need to train our teachers accordingly, invest in new equipment and modify the curriculum to ensure that it is not irrelevant,” says Professor Kombo.

The proliferation of new technologies in the workplace has also made it crucial to introduce courses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, robotics, Internet of Things, virtual reality, programming , cybersecurity and data protection.

“This is to ensure that academics do not have difficulty adapting to the modern world of work once they graduate, requiring them to pursue further studies,” said Professor Abraham Waithima, vice-chancellor deputy (DVC) in charge of academic affairs. , Saint-Paul.

Round. Truphosa Kwaka-Sumba, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, said greater emphasis should also be placed on the exposure students gain through activities such as exchange programs , industrial internships, international trips and seminars.

“Such activities expose students to the real world, allowing them to connect what they learn in the classroom to its application in industry, which prepares them for the market,” explained Rev. Truphosa.

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Integrity has become a major issue in the country, and academia and integrity have become so important that many employers also consider ethics when recruiting.

“Employers no longer just look at documents. They look at what the whole person is made of,” Rev. Truphosa remarked.

It appears that these employers are prioritizing university graduates with value-based education.

Therefore, value experts argue that today’s universities must train students in this way and create an environment anchored on this basis.

What the government is doing to ensure the transition from CBC/Radio-Canada to universities

Speaking during the swearing-in of Vice President Kithure KindikiPresident William Ruto has claimed that through his administration, Kenya has developed a new student-based funding model, which his government is refining to ensure that no child in Kenya is left behind.

In September 2024, Ruto appointed 129-member task force review the new university funding model.

The commission which will be chaired by Japhet Micheni Ntiba will notably have to review the structure of student loans.

Source: TUKO.co.ke