<p>What is a Competence Based Curriculum?</p>
<p>This is <strong>a uniquely designed model that is designed to promote the development of skills, knowledge and application of competencies by learners to real life situations.</strong></p>
<p>It further aims at imparting knowledge, skills and attitude that build broad competencies which help in solving everyday problems.</p>
<p>This new system of education was designed by the <strong>Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)</strong> and launched in <strong>2017</strong> by the <strong>Ministry of Education</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>In summary;</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>CBC focuses on learning outcomes</li>
<li>It is learner centered</li>
<li>It is a learner-driven process hence active</li>
<li>Meant for learners who are born into the world of technology (techno servi learners)</li>
<li>Classes are now referred to as grades</li>
<li>ECDE has 2 levels, not 3 i.e. PP1 &; PP2</li>
<li>Subject areas are now known as learning areas</li>
<li>Topics and sub-topics are now called strands and sub-strands respectively</li>
</ul>
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<p>UNIQUE FEATURES/ CHARACTERISTICS OF KENYA’S COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM</p>
<ul>
<li>It is flexible for it enables learners to receive credit for what they know, not what they are expected to know.</li>
<li>It not only focuses on the learner’s academic knowledge but also talents.</li>
<li>ICT is integrated at all levels</li>
<li>Learners receive individualized attention</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>THE 7 CORE COMPETENCIES OF KENYA’S COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM</strong></p>
<p>At the end of the learning period, a learner is expected to achieve the following competencies:</p>
<ol>
<li>Communication and collaboration</li>
<li>Critical thinking and problem solving</li>
<li>Citizenship</li>
<li>Imagination and creativity</li>
<li>Digital literacy</li>
<li>Self –efficacy</li>
<li>Learning to learn</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>CBC LIFE VALUES</strong></p>
<p>CBC aims at promoting the following values:</p>
<ol>
<li>Love</li>
<li>Responsibility</li>
<li>Respect</li>
<li>Unity</li>
<li>Peace</li>
<li>Patriotism</li>
<li>Integrity</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>CBC LEVELS</strong></p>
<p>Kenya’s Competence Based Curriculum’s basic education is divided into three main levels:</p>
<ol>
<li>Early years education</li>
<li>Middle school education</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Senior school</li>
</ul>
<p>After acquiring basic education, the learner can proceed to higher education levels</p>
<p><strong>Higher education</strong></p>
<p>It takes at least three years.</p>
<p>There is no fixed time frame since it varies depending on the course.</p>
<p><strong>Senior school</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Grades 10, 11 &; 12)</strong></p>
<p>It takes three years.</p>
<p>The age bracket is 15-17 years.</p>
<p>It lays the foundation for further education and training at tertiary level</p>
<p><strong>Lower secondary</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Grades 7, 8 &;9)</strong></p>
<p>It takes three years</p>
<p><strong>Upper primary</strong></p>
<p><strong>(Grade 4, 5 &;6)</strong></p>
<p>It is part of middle school</p>
<p>Formerly referred to as class 4, 5 &;6 respectively</p>
<p>Gives learners a chance to experiment and explore</p>
<p><strong>Lower primary</strong></p>
<p>(Grade 1, 2 &;3)</p>
<p>Formerly referred to as lower primary which comprised class 1, 2 &;3</p>
<p>Pre-primary</p>
<p>Abbreviated as PP1 &; PP2</p>
<p>Referred to as ECDE under the 8-4-4 curriculum</p>
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<p><strong>ADVANTAGES OF THE COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM</strong></p>
<p><strong>Kenya’s proposed new competence based curriculum has got a number of merits over the former 8-4-4 system of education. These include:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>It is highly flexible for its structure depends on the learner’s ability.</li>
<li>It encourages increased learner involvement since learners are in charge of their learning-learner-centered</li>
<li>It is centered on skills and competencies that learners can easily apply to real life situations- situations that learners can easily relate with</li>
<li>Furthermore, the CBC curriculum enables the learner to specialize in areas that s/he is competent. Thus it will not end up producing jacks of all trades but masters of none</li>
</ol>
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