In its latest move to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the Ministry of Education has made the biggest stride yet by posting the list of the approved learning materials for learners at the Grade 10 level.
The list is released on Tuesday, December 23, through the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and contains the textbooks and resources for use in the senior schools. This is a milestone as the initial class under the CBC is set to join senior schools next year.
Under this arrangement, Grade 10 pupils will be studying through seven learning areas. Four of these will be compulsory. They include English, Kiswahili, Core Mathematics, and Community Service Learning (CSL). The other three will be chosen by pupils depending on their interests, talents, and objectives, in collaboration with teachers and administrative personnel.
The senior school in accordance with the CBC comprises three broad career fields: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM); Social Sciences; and Arts and Sports Science. A list of learning materials that belong to each of the three fields has just been made public.
Students in the Arts and Sports Science program will use “Hummingbird Music and Dance”, “Mentor Music and Dance”, “KLB Excellent Music and Dance”, “Moran Music and Dance”, and “Distinction Music and Dance” by Music and Dance students. Theatre and Film students will make use of “Doritex Film and Theatre” and “Distinction Theatre and Film”, while Fine Arts students will make use of “Front Row Fine Arts” and “Mentor Fine Arts”. Students in the Sports Science program are expected to make use of “Mountain Sports Science”, “Top Sports and Recreation”, and “Booklyst Master Sports and Recreation”.
In Social Sciences, English-speaking students will read books like English Moran, KLB Excellent English, Storymoja English, Hummingbird English, Oxford English, as well as Highland English. For Kiswahili students, there are Moran Kiswahili Cha Mwanafunzi, Oxford Kiswahili Fasaha, Mentor Kiswahili Kitabu cha Mwanafunzi, Longhorn Chemchemi za Kiswahili, One Planet Mbiu ya Kiswahili, Hummingbird Kiswahili Kitabu cha Mwanafun
The STEM route is also coupled with a comprehensive list of approved textbooks. The Computer Studies learners would use Modern Technology Computer Studies and Oxford Active Computer Studies. For Mathematics, the approved textbooks would include Mentor Mathematics, Spotlight Core Mathematics, Longhorn Advancing in Core Mathematics, KLB Excellent Core Mathematics, Mentor General Mathematics, and Spotlight Essential Mathematics.
Biology students will depend on titles like Spotlight Biology, Triumph Biology, Oxford Biology Today, Magic Biology, Master Biology or Mentor Biology. Persons undertaking Building Construction are required to make use of Master Building and Construction, Distinction Building and Construction or Excellent Building and Construction.
All teachers in senior schools are required to select learning material from the official list as instructed by the Ministry and are to rely on both learner books and teachers guides where teaching and learning for assessment is anchored on CBC ideals.
As per the Ministry of Education, the senior school aims at developing learners with apt skills and capabilities required in life. At the end of this phase, learners must be able to communicate effectively, apply information and communication technology, and use mathematical, logical, and critical thinking skills.
The students should also display basic research and scientific skills, while cultivating their individual talents for recreation, professional development, education, and training. However, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the CBC is intended to equip students not only for examination life, but for the outside world as well.
As the Grade 10 content is rolled out, the transition to senior school is now in full gear, and teachers, parents, as well as all learning institutions, have been placed at the forefront of implementing the next phase of reforms.
