The Competency Based Curriculum was first introduced in December 2017 but to date, Kenyans still feel there is a lot of confusion surrounding it.
Questions revolve around the transition of learners into Senior School, about assessments and how placement of learners into career paths will be done.
Kenya National Examination Council CEO David Njengere acknowledged the uncertainty of assessments under the new curriculum.
"The dichotomy between the formative and summative assessments is taking time to be understood clearly," Njengere said during this year's annual Knec conference at the College of Insurance.
"However, we understand that such misunderstanding is normal at a time of transition."
Njengere said Knec is holding stakeholder and media engagements to increase awareness on CBC assessments.
The last time the country had a curriculum transition was in 1985, when former President Daniel Moi established the 8-4-4 system of education. This approach replaced the 7-4-2-3 system.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director Charles Ong'ondo said the country had no defined curriculum up until 1985.
"If I ask you which curriculum we had, I am sure you will mention numbers. That we had seven years of primary, four years of secondary, then two years A levels and three years of university," he said.
"Technically speaking from a curriculum perspective, what did we call it? Arguably it was a need-based curriculum. We had just gained independence, we wanted people to occupy offices held by people we sent away."
There was minimal transition from A levels to universities back then, he said, adding that it was part of the reason a new curriculum was sought.
The KICD boss said when the 8-4-4 curriculum was being implemented, those in class 7 were simply told they would go to class 8 in the next year.
"They did not tell us which curriculum they were implementing. They did not give us the set of competencies that we were supposed to achieve. They did not give us a curriculum framework," Ong'ondo said.
The 8-4-4 curriculum was meant to be skill-based with activities such as woodwork, but by the time it was being phased out from primary school, it had become knowledge-based.
He lauded the new curriculum for “not forcing the entire population to go in one direction”.
"We are created differently, and we have to nurture every learner's potential," Ong'ondo said.
KICD has so far developed CBC designs up to Grade 10, he said, terming this as good progress.
The first cohort of CBC learners are in Grade 7, and Ong'ondo said Print Curriculum Support Materials like books have been provided up to that level.
“Also, the curriculum designs adapted for learners with hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical handicap are up to Grade 10,” he said.
On teacher retooling, Ong'ondo said tutors dealing with PP1, PP2, Grade 1-7 learners have been oriented on CBC.
“We have had continuous orientation of teachers through a multi sectoral approach using the cascade model.”
Additionally, curriculum designs for Special Needs Education at Foundational, Intermediate, Pre-vocational and Vocational levels have been prepared.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said some aspects in CBC are yet to be determined.
He said the ministry will hold a conference with stakeholders in coming weeks to come up with a formula for transition of learners from Junior School to Senior School from Grade 10 in 2026.
Elijah Chelule, who was among the first Kenyans to sit KCPE, said there were also challenges in the transition from A levels to 8-4-4.
When 8-4-4 was introduced, it came with practical subjects like woodwork, cookery, and metal work.
"We even had some excitement. But our teachers were not trained. It was like we were walking in the dark," Chelule said.
"We had high expectations that we would go far with 8-4-4. They had told us if one was good at woodwork, they would specialise in carpentry when they got to high school. Thus, by the time one completed school, they would have acquired skills for the job market."
But the excitement died once they got to Form One and it became clear that the curriculum had not been well defined.
"There were no books to guide us. At Form 3 we were using books meant for Form 6," Chelule said.
Because of the undefined curriculum, subjects they had done in primary school were relegated to high school.
The implementation of CBC is better now than 8-4-4 was done, he says.
Maria Gorreti Nyariki said they felt like guinea pigs when the country was introducing the 8-4-4 curriculum, adding that teachers did not know what they were doing.
"There was no pressure. We did not even feel like we were doing exams when KCPE came and the teachers just encouraged us to do our best," Nyariki said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu when he appeared before Senators said the State is ready to seamlessly enrol Grade 10 learners as it phases out 8-4-4 from Secondary schools.
"I would like to give assurance that all the necessary preparations for Senior School which will commence from January 2026 are in top gear," the CS said.