MAULID BILLIE ALI - BILLIE MEDIA: FOCUS ON NEW EDUCATION CURRICULUM IS A TIME WASTING SIDESHOW

FOCUS ON NEW EDUCATION CURRICULUM IS A TIME WASTING SIDESHOW

I am very uncomfortable with this business of changing education curriculum/system every so often. When 8-4-4 was introduced we were told it was the real gold. The system was meant to inculcate practical skills and we had workshops in every primary school. We had subjects like home science, art and craft, music etc.

The changes that were done on the system removing those subjects seems to have precipitated the need for a new curriculum since 8-4-4 is now seen as too theoretical.

The new Competency Based Curriculum sounds good on paper. However, its hurried and chaotic implementation betrays ill motives. I don't see how such a decision can be made without thorough debate, deep public participation and parliamentary approval.

There is no proof that the new curriculum is as a result of strategic thinking that aligns it with future country goals or plans. It seems to me like a thoughtless euphoric adoption of the latest fad. No research or concrete evidence has been presented to warrant these changes. What is the new system supposed to achieve or cure?

How will the CBC graduates benefit from the system in a jobless country? The emergency thing right now is to create jobs. A new education curriculum is a sideshow which will yield nothing.

Some may argue that the new system will produce job creators.

However, job creation has little to do with the education system and more to do with the economic environment. There is no education system that can create job creators where there is no supportive economic environment.

Our 8-4-4 graduates have excelled in everything across the globe. This is a testament that the education system is a matter of little concern.

Unless we improve the economic environment to support job creation we will be back where we are a few years down the line.

Our education system should also be future proof. In the past, education system was aimed at churning out workers. Today we are entering the 4th Industrial Revolution where robots and technology such as 3D printing will take over the role of workers.

A new education system should be geared at creating more thinkers and fewer workers. CBC will achieve nothing unless it is based on evidence and is driven by clear goals. The money being invested in the system should be spent on more urgent things.

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