I was conversing with a mom at my daughter’s school before the end of the term about the coming school year. Both our kids are going to Junior school in 2025. She mentioned that she is considering changing schools because her daughter is interested in the British Curriculum Education and most of the kids in her class are changing school systems too.
It got me thinking about whether parents know the different curricula available and the importance of choosing the right one for their children.
It is important to note that each education system provides unique benefits to learners
based on clear and definite goals of the education framework.
Below is a list of different curricula in Kenya’s primary school system and its
focus.
- 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 own
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
