There are different school curricula /systems used in our learning institutions. As a parent, it is important to know which approach a school employs when teaching in order to choose the one that best suits your child.
It is important to note that each education system provides unique benefits to learners based on clear and definite goals of the education framework.
- Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC)
It was designed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and launched by the Ministry of Education in 2017.
It is designed to emphasize the significance of developing skills and knowledge and applying those competencies in real-life situations. The competencies include communication and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving, imagination and creativity, citizenship, learning to learn, self-efficacy, and digital literacy.
- British Curriculum
It was established in 1988 and is one of the world’s most widely taught education systems.
The curriculum is one of the most well-known and highly regarded curricula in the world of international education.
Students are taught questioning, problem-solving, and creative thinking to develop the analytic and creative thinking skills that they will need in the working world.
The curriculum places a high priority on extracurricular activities that help students develop skills in leadership and teamwork.
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
It was founded in 1968 in Switzerland and it is one of the most well-known and longest-running systems of international education.
It is a global leader in international education with the purpose of developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people.
The program empowers school-aged students to take ownership of their learning and helps them to develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a fast-changing world.
It is also lauded for providing a solid consistent framework and the flexibility to tailor students’ education according to their culture and context. The program is highly transferable across countries and is recognized by top universities across the globe.
- Montessori curriculum
The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900s.
It is a child-centered educational method where value is placed on a child’s independence, physical development, social development, and natural psychological development.
Montessori believes that allowing children to choose what they want and enjoy helps them learn better. It also allows children to learn at their own pace depending on their development stage and needs.
Montessori students become confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens accountable to themselves and their community.
- Waldorf system
Waldorf education is a worldwide independent school movement developed in Europe nearly 100 years ago by an Austrian Philosopher, social reformer, and Visionary Rudolf Steiner.
Waldorf education and teaching methods are designed to stimulate and nurture children’s academic and creative capacities and abilities. The curriculum nourishes a child’s intellectual growth, physical movement, and artistic interest. Through this, Waldorf cultivates each child’s unique contribution to the future through the unfolding of courage, compassion, and knowledge.
- The North American Curriculum
The American curriculum is based on American Core State Standards which focus on multiple intelligences and the development of individual talents, with special attention to the impact on such essential aspects of cognitive, affective, and social aspects of the students.
Students are supported by a huge range of co-curricular activities to ensure they have the opportunity to develop fully as individuals. Personalized instructions are geared towards inquiry-based, hands-on teaching methods and world-class learning strategies.
The American Curriculum is recognized as one of the world’s top educational systems and is easily transferable to other academic institutions. It is accepted at universities all around the world.
- Accelerated Christian Education
The program provides a well-rounded education incorporating biblical principles in goal setting, reading, and character development.
Students can learn at their own pace without being left behind with Accelerated Christian Education’s self-instructional (Packets of the A.C.E) curriculum. PACEs are textbooks with lessons and worksheets that students will answer.
Advanced learners may move quickly through subjects and slow learners are given as much time as they need to master more difficult concepts.
Biblical teaching and ideas are integrated into every lesson in the curriculum. Every lesson is taught from a biblical view, helping students learn critical thinking and be able to discern the truth.
