DESCRIPTION

The outcome-based education System is a system of education in Kenya with eight years of primary
education, four years of secondary education and four years of university education. The system was
introduced in 1985 to replace the 7-4-2-3 curriculum, which consisted of seven years of primary school
(classes 1–7), four years of lower secondary school (form 1–4), two years of upper secondary school
(form 5–6) and three years of higher education. The 7-4-2-3 system had been adopted when Kenya was
part of the initial East African Community. Following the introduction of 8-4-4, CPE (Certificate of
Primary Education) became KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) while KACE (Kenya Advanced
Certificate of Education) became the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Primary school
was made free and mandatory, and secondary and higher education were subsidized by the
government.

CBC stands for Competency Based Curriculum. This is the new education system in Kenya that is
currently set to replace the 8-4-4 education system. The system was introduced in 2017. The CBC was
researched and developed by KICD (Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development). The CBEC consists of 2
years of early childhood education, 6 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education and 3
years of tertiary education.

INTERPRETATION

CBC fosters on the development of crucial soft skills such as Communication and collaboration, Critical
thinking and Problem solving, Imagination and creativity, Citizenship, learning to learn, Self-efficacy and
Digital literacy. Towards the end, learners perform countless investigative, explorative, and
experimenting activities in the course of learning. Such soft skills give learners a massive competitive
advantage when competing for job and business opportunities upon graduation.

Competency-based assessment measures a student’s competency against previously set standards of

performance. Unlike formal exams, CBA involves a set of methodical processes that collects evidence to
help analyze learner’s progress and achievements. Assessment consequently involves the learners
performing certain tasks to determine how well they can complete them in a practical scenario.

The goal of CBC is to produce holistic individuals with competencies, values, knowledge, and skills
necessary to succeed in a highly competitive world. It is a curriculum to stimulate the minds, hearts and
souls of learners; not stuff them with facts and figures.

These competencies are embedded in all the learning areas at all the levels. The main difference is that
8-4-4 focuses more on mastery on content, which encourages rote learning, while CBC focuses on
learners’ performance of skills and competencies that are observable. According to the Kenya Institute
of Curriculum Development, a change of the curriculum was necessitated by a needs assessment of the
curriculum viewed against the aspirations of the nation.
JUXTAPOSITION

Pre-Primary Primary (Years) Secondary University Total

(Years) (Years) (Years)
Outcome Based 8 4 4 16
Education
Competency 2 3 + 3= 6 3 + 3=6 3 17
Based Education

8-4-4 Language CBC Language

Class and Form Grade

Subject Area Learning Area

Topics Strands

Learning Objectives Learning Outcomes

Teaching Aids Learning Resources

COMPARISON

The 8-4-4 curriculum offers Science, Social Studies, Kiswahili, English, Math, Religious education,
Creative arts, Physical Education (PE), and life skills studies at the Primary level. The system offers an
estimate of thirty subjects grouped in 6 categories (Languages, Science, Applied Sciences, Humanities,
Creative Arts, and Technical Subjects). Students are then tested in four of the subjects groups in their
KCSE examination. A grade of C+ is the minimum required for admissions into Kenyan Universities.

In Competency Based Curriculum, Subjects taught at lower primary include:

I. Literacy Activities or Braille Literacy Activities

II. Kiswahili Language Activities or Kenya Sign Language (for deaf learners)
III. English Language Activities
IV. Mathematical Activities
V. Environmental Activities
VI. Hygiene and Nutrition Activities
VII. Religious Education Activities
VIII. Movement and Creative Activities
Upper primary is part of middle school. Upper primary has Grade 4, 5, 6. Subjects taught in
upper primary include:
 I. English
II. Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language
III. Home Science
IV. Agriculture
V. Science and Technology
VI. Mathematics
VII. Religious Education (CRE or IRE or HRE)
VIII. Creative Arts
IX. Physical and Health Education
X. Social Studies

The 8-4-4 curriculum offers Science, Social Studies, Kiswahili, English, Math, Religious
education, Creative arts, Physical Education (PE), and life skills studies at the Primary
level. The system offers an estimate of thirty subjects grouped in 6 categories
(Languages, Science, Applied Sciences, Humanities, Creative Arts, and Technical
Subjects). Students are then tested in four of the subjects groups in their KCSE
examination. A grade of C+ is the minimum required for admissions into Kenyan
Universities.
Subjects groups offered in Secondary Schools
Learning Areas Subjects
Languages English, Kiswahili, Arabic, German, French
Science Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology
Applied Sciences Home Science, Agriculture, Computer Studies
Humanities History, Geography, Religious Education, Life Skills, Business
Studies
Creative Arts Music, Art and Design
Technical Subjects Drawing and design, Building/Construction, Power and
Mechanics, Metal work, Aviation, Woodwork, Electronics

Conclusions

Based on the advantages of CBC in allowing every child to identify their strengths in the various
intelligence measures, this system has appealed to many parents who value education quality.
Thus, CBC is better than the 8-4-4 because it considers all children by providing parallel and
complementary academic, vocational and talent tiers.