The General Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT, Mr. Collins Oyuu, has insisted that the trade union does not oppose the Competency Based Curriculum, CBC.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark one year since assuming office, Mr. Oyuu explained that the union has been researching on the curriculum and their request to the government is to consider allowing the pioneer students of the CBC curriculum to continue learning at the various primary schools.
This, according to Mr. Oyuu, is due to lack of adequate infrastructure in most secondary schools due to the 100% transition in previous years. He added that the single classrooms that were built for the 100% transition purpose are already full and secondary schools are congested. Oyuu also said the students were not mature enough to be transit to secondary schools.
“It was our honest opinion for which we carried out this research, that grade 6 and 7 be domiciled in primary schools. Reasons, already we have class 6 and 7 in those primary schools and even teachers teaching there. Instead of deploying the teachers to secondary schools to teach junior secondary, these teachers are already here,” Mr.Oyuu said.
This being the first year for three classes to sit the National Examinations, Mr Oyuu also said they were working with the Teachers’ Service Commission, TSC, to discuss issues affecting teachers.
However, he has warned those politicizing teachers’ issues in political platforms saying that there are better strategies to discuss such issues.
“The notion that KNUT is not strong anymore should be on the lips of wishful thinkers.” Mr.Oyuu added.
By Elizabeth Kavaya