Why Kenya’s CBC Might Be Doomed
Introduction: A Bold Vision, But at What Cost?
What is CBC, and why was it introduced?
The Hidden Costs of CBC: Who’s Paying the Price?
Teachers Are Struggling Too
Infrastructure Gap: The Elephant in the Room
Government Budgeting Failures: A Classic Case of Misplaced Priorities
Devolved Corruption Worsens the Situation
CBC Assessments: No Exams, But More Pressure
The 2025 Crisis: Exams Without a Budget?
Is CBC a Middle-Class Curriculum?
Solutions: What Needs to Change?
1. Increased and Ring-Fenced Budget Allocation
2. Teacher Support and Motivation
3. Public-Private Partnerships
4. Strengthen Monitoring & Accountability
5. Empower Parents Through Communication
Final Thoughts: CBC Must Succeed—But It Can’t Do It Alone
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: Lack of sustainable funding for infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher training.
A: Traditional exams are replaced with continuous assessments like projects and portfolios.
A: Rural learners, overworked teachers, and low-income parents are bearing the brunt.
A: Yes, through proper funding, accountability, partnerships, and continuous teacher support.
Links for Further Reading
Sources Cited
By Trendsphere522 | Education News | May 14, 2025
When Kenya rolled out the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), it was hailed as a revolutionary step toward modernizing the country’s education system. Moving away from the rigid 8-4-4 system, CBC promised to nurture learners’ talents, foster innovation, and prepare young people for the 21st-century job market. But nearly a decade later, this bold vision is hitting a brick wall: a lack of sustainable funding.
Despite its noble objectives, CBC risks collapsing under the weight of underinvestment, mismanagement, and logistical chaos. With classrooms overstretched, teachers undertrained, and parents overburdened, the system may soon become unsustainable.
Read Also: Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People
The CBC was officially implemented in 8-4-4 to replace the system. The key goals were
Shift focus from rote memorization to practical, hands-on learning.
Encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Promote learner-centered education where each child’s talent is recognized and nurtured.
Align Kenya’s education system with global standards.
The curriculum is divided into three tiers:
Early Years Education (PP1 to Grade 3)
Middle School Education (Grades 4 to 9)
Senior School (Grades 10 to 12)
However, implementing such a transformative curriculum requires massive investment in infrastructure, training, and technology—something the government has consistently struggled to deliver.
While CBC promises quality education, the financial burden has shifted drastically to parents and teachers. Parents are required to buy expensive learning materials, support projects, and even fund school infrastructure in some regions.
A parent from Kisumu, for instance, told The Nation:
“My grade 4 child was asked to bring manila papers, clay, colored pencils, and even maize cobs. It’s too much—every week there's a new item.”
Teachers are expected to prepare multiple lesson plans, implement new methodologies, and handle continuous assessments, yet many have not received adequate training.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has repeatedly called for more funding to facilitate teacher development. As of 2025, thousands of teachers still lack CBC-specific pedagogical skills, yet are expected to deliver results.
For CBC to thrive, schools need modern learning environments—well-equipped classrooms, science labs, workshops, and digital tools. But what’s the reality?
Overcrowded classrooms: Some Grade 6 classes have over 70 students, making personalized learning impossible.
Lack of digital infrastructure: Rural schools often lack access to the internet, computers, and electricity.
Inadequate learning materials: Textbooks, project kits, and teaching aids are insufficient or outdated.
According to a World Bank report, 47% of public schools in Kenya lack basic facilities required for CBC.
Despite the government's commitment to CBC, budget allocations tell a different story. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Ministry of Education received Ksh 628 billion. However, less than 15% was explicitly earmarked for CBC implementation.
Where is the rest of the money going?
Salaries for TSC employees
Free day secondary school funding
School feeding programs
While these are important, the lack of direct investment in CBC structures and resources is undermining the entire curriculum.
External Source: Budget Policy Statement, National Treasury (2024)
With education funds being channeled through counties, corruption at the local level is another bottleneck. Money meant for CBC infrastructure often “disappears” into ghost projects, inflated procurement deals, or political campaigns.
Recommended Reading: How Corruption Eats into Kenya’s Education Budget – Transparency International
CBC relies on continuous assessments (CAs) rather than traditional exams. Students are graded through project work, portfolios, peer reviews, and teacher observation. While this sounds progressive, it’s logistically complex and costly.
Teachers need training on formative assessment techniques.
Schools need software to record and analyze student performance.
Learners require materials to complete projects.
But due to a lack of funds, assessments have become a tick-box exercise, with teachers overwhelmed and students confused.
In May 2025, reports emerged that no budget had been allocated for the administration of KPSEA, KJSEA, and KCSE. This has sparked nationwide panic.
Introduction: A Bold Vision, But at What Cost?
What is CBC, and why was it introduced?
The Hidden Costs of CBC: Who’s Paying the Price?
Teachers Are Struggling Too
Infrastructure Gap: The Elephant in the Room
Government Budgeting Failures: A Classic Case of Misplaced Priorities
 |
| Children dressed in creative costumes made from recycled materials participate in a street cleanup. The scene is lively and colorful. Photo credit: Bizna Kenya | Willis Kaleb |
CBC Assessments: No Exams, But More Pressure
The 2025 Crisis: Exams Without a Budget?
Is CBC a Middle-Class Curriculum?
Solutions: What Needs to Change?
1. Increased and Ring-Fenced Budget Allocation
2. Teacher Support and Motivation
3. Public-Private Partnerships
4. Strengthen Monitoring & Accountability
5. Empower Parents Through Communication
Final Thoughts: CBC Must Succeed—But It Can’t Do It Alone
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: Lack of sustainable funding for infrastructure, learning materials, and teacher training.
A: Traditional exams are replaced with continuous assessments like projects and portfolios.
A: Rural learners, overworked teachers, and low-income parents are bearing the brunt.
A: Yes, through proper funding, accountability, partnerships, and continuous teacher support.
Links for Further Reading
Sources Cited
By Trendsphere522 | Education News | May 14, 2025
When Kenya rolled out the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), it was hailed as a revolutionary step toward modernizing the country’s education system. Moving away from the rigid 8-4-4 system, CBC promised to nurture learners’ talents, foster innovation, and prepare young people for the 21st-century job market. But nearly a decade later, this bold vision is hitting a brick wall: a lack of sustainable funding.
Despite its noble objectives, CBC risks collapsing under the weight of underinvestment, mismanagement, and logistical chaos. With classrooms overstretched, teachers undertrained, and parents overburdened, the system may soon become unsustainable.
Read Also: Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People
The CBC was officially implemented in 8-4-4 to replace the system. The key goals were
Shift focus from rote memorization to practical, hands-on learning.
Encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Promote learner-centered education where each child’s talent is recognized and nurtured.
Align Kenya’s education system with global standards.
The curriculum is divided into three tiers:
Early Years Education (PP1 to Grade 3)
Middle School Education (Grades 4 to 9)
Senior School (Grades 10 to 12)
However, implementing such a transformative curriculum requires massive investment in infrastructure, training, and technology—something the government has consistently struggled to deliver.
While CBC promises quality education, the financial burden has shifted drastically to parents and teachers. Parents are required to buy expensive learning materials, support projects, and even fund school infrastructure in some regions.
A parent from Kisumu, for instance, told The Nation:
“My grade 4 child was asked to bring manila papers, clay, colored pencils, and even maize cobs. It’s too much—every week there's a new item.”
Teachers are expected to prepare multiple lesson plans, implement new methodologies, and handle continuous assessments, yet many have not received adequate training.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has repeatedly called for more funding to facilitate teacher development. As of 2025, thousands of teachers still lack CBC-specific pedagogical skills, yet are expected to deliver results.
For CBC to thrive, schools need modern learning environments—well-equipped classrooms, science labs, workshops, and digital tools. But what’s the reality?
Overcrowded classrooms: Some Grade 6 classes have over 70 students, making personalized learning impossible.
Lack of digital infrastructure: Rural schools often lack access to the internet, computers, and electricity.
Inadequate learning materials: Textbooks, project kits, and teaching aids are insufficient or outdated.
According to a World Bank report, 47% of public schools in Kenya lack basic facilities required for CBC.
Despite the government's commitment to CBC, budget allocations tell a different story. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the Ministry of Education received Ksh 628 billion. However, less than 15% was explicitly earmarked for CBC implementation.
Where is the rest of the money going?
Salaries for TSC employees
Free day secondary school funding
School feeding programs
While these are important, the lack of direct investment in CBC structures and resources is undermining the entire curriculum.
External Source: Budget Policy Statement, National Treasury (2024)
With education funds being channeled through counties, corruption at the local level is another bottleneck. Money meant for CBC infrastructure often “disappears” into ghost projects, inflated procurement deals, or political campaigns.
Recommended Reading: How Corruption Eats into Kenya’s Education Budget – Transparency International
CBC relies on continuous assessments (CAs) rather than traditional exams. Students are graded through project work, portfolios, peer reviews, and teacher observation. While this sounds progressive, it’s logistically complex and costly.
Teachers need training on formative assessment techniques.
Schools need software to record and analyze student performance.
Learners require materials to complete projects.
But due to a lack of funds, assessments have become a tick-box exercise, with teachers overwhelmed and students confused.
In May 2025, reports emerged that no budget had been allocated for the administration of KPSEA, KJSEA, and KCSE. This has sparked nationwide panic.
.webp "This is Why Kenya’s CBC Might Be Doomed.") |
| Four schoolchildren in uniform sit at a table, focused on writing in workbooks and reading textbooks in a classroom setting. Photo credit: Samson Nduta | Teachers Updates |
Without urgent funding, millions of Grade 6, Grade 9, and Form 4 learners may not be able to sit their national assessments. It would be a catastrophe not just for the students but also for the credibility of CBC and Kenya's entire education system.
Trending: Big blow to parents as students might not sit for exams— No budget for KPSEA, KJSEA, KCSE
Critics argue that CBC favors urban and middle-class learners whose parents can afford extra materials, private tuition, and digital tools. Meanwhile, students from marginalized regions like Turkana, Mandera, or rural Kisii are left behind.
This inequality defeats CBC’s purpose of providing equitable and inclusive education.
Fact: According to UNESCO, 34% of learners in Kenya’s arid regions drop out before Grade 6, mainly due to poverty and lack of infrastructure.
The government must allocate at least 25% of the education budget directly to CBC, with funds ring-fenced to prevent misuse. Prioritize:
Teacher training
Learning materials
School infrastructure
Teachers need incentives, not just training. This includes:
Reduced workload
Access to digital resources
Allowances for handling assessments
The Ministry of Education should invite partnerships with edtech firms, NGOs, and private publishers to provide digital content, teacher training, and affordable learning materials.
Example: M-Shule is an edtech platform that uses SMS to support CBC learning. (Visit M-Shule)
Introduce independent audits of CBC funds at both the national and county levels. Utilize technologies such as blockchain or e-procurement systems to minimize corruption.
Many parents still don’t understand CBC. The government should conduct mass sensitization programs through television, radio, and community forums to align parental expectations with the goals of the CBC.
Kenya’s CBC is a brilliant idea that deserves a chance. But without strategic investment, efficient execution, and transparent governance, it is doomed to become just another failed experiment.
If we truly want to prepare our children for a competitive global future, we must fund education not as a cost, but as an investment. Kenya’s future depends on it.
The most asked questions by the parents,
Q1: What is the main challenge facing CBC in Kenya?
Q2: Are there exams in CBC?
Q3: Who is most affected by CBC challenges?
Q4: Can CBC be saved?
Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People
The Rise of Gen Z Activism in East Africa
Big blow to parents: No funds for 2025 exams
Sources Cited
National Treasury Budget Policy 2024
Transparency International Kenya
UNESCO—Kenya Education Stats
M-Shule EdTech Platform
World Bank Education Report—Kenya
Written by Trendsphere522—Keeping You Informed on Kenya’s Educational Landscape.
Q1: What is the main challenge facing CBC in Kenya?
Q2: Are there exams in CBC?
Q3: Who is most affected by CBC challenges?
Q4: Can CBC be saved?
Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People
The Rise of Gen Z Activism in East Africa
Big blow to parents: No funds for 2025 exams
Sources Cited
National Treasury Budget Policy 2024
Transparency International Kenya
UNESCO—Kenya Education Stats
M-Shule EdTech Platform
World Bank Education Report—Kenya
Written by Trendsphere522—Keeping You Informed on Kenya’s Educational Landscape.