Gov't names 2 ways teachers are exploiting parents with CBC

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has identified the two ways teachers have been exploiting parents with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Ms Olive Mbuthia, deputy director in charge of primary education, explained that the expenses imposed on parents to facilitate learning are unnecessary and have been brought about by teachers' misunderstanding of the programme.

Mbuthia explained that teachers have misinterpreted the Specific Learning Outcome and Suggested Learning Experiences prescribed by CBC manuals.

This misinterpretation has led to teachers exploiting parents financially through purchase of unnecessary learning aids. Secondly, parents have been forced to do homework for their children.

"This is what has pushed some teachers to come up with outrageous learning activities that have been costly to parents.

"Either teachers fail to be creative or are too lazy to think out of the box without necessarily burdening the parents," she stated.

How parents be involved in CBC

The government official explained that parents should not be required to buy wheelbarrows, kitchen utensils, manila papers, data bundles or any other specialized equipment to facilitate learning.

She urged teachers to make use of the school kitchen, collaborate with neighbouring schools for items such as wheelbarrows noting that lessons which require the items may occur once in the learner's year.

"Some teachers ask parents to download images and to mount them on manila papers which children should carry to school the following day. Some even ask parents to download videos. This is unnecessarily expensive and teachers can always get readily available practical ways of helping children learn.

"Parents are expected to provide a learning environment at home. They need to support children to learn at home but not actually doing the homework," the KICD official explained.