A prominent educationist and former assistant minister has warned the government against abandoning the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) amid Grade 10 admission hurdles, insisting that the challenges stem from a rushed rollout without proper piloting—yet retreating to the old 8-4-4 system would be a grave mistake.
Dr. Gilbert Oluoch, a seasoned curriculum development expert and one-time Bondo MP, argued that the absence of pilot programmes before full implementation has exposed predictable teething problems now plaguing the sector.
Speaking at Maranda Educational Centre in Bondo Sub-County, Siaya, the veteran educationist acknowledged the government’s misstep in haste but called for resolve rather than reversal.
“The 8-4-4 system has served its purpose,” Dr. Oluoch declared. “It produced the manpower needed to replace departing expatriates after independence. Today, we have bachelor’s, master’s and PhD holders everywhere—but no jobs for them.”
He hailed CBC as a timely shift towards nurturing job creators rather than job seekers, urging all Kenyans to rally behind it.
“Change in education is not cheap—it is expensive,” he emphasized. “We must face these challenges head-on instead of retreating. The government needs to commit more resources if this curriculum is to succeed.”
Dr. Oluoch’s credentials lend weight to his plea. A career educationist since independence, he was among the first Africans to hold senior roles in the Ministry of Education alongside figures like Dr. Gikonyo Kiano, Kenneth Matiba and John Michuki. He rose to Director of Education before entering politics under the late President Daniel arap Moi, serving as Bondo MP from 1988 to 1992.
As the nation grapples with transitional growing pains in the education sector, Dr. Oluoch’s message is clear: fix the flaws, fund the future, and let CBC deliver the innovators Kenya needs.
Photo Credit: KNA, Siaya
