The 8-4-4 dilemma: Task-force report proposes system overhaul

http://www.ntv.co.ke
The report proposing the scrapping of the 8-4-4 system is finally due to be launched by the government on Friday. Proponents are pushing to have the system replaced as soon as next year. The report which has to be adopted by the government, is also recommending the abolition of the current national exams, KCPE and KCSE. Rita Tinina reports on the wide-ranging proposals that could radically change how and what children learn in school.

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[lkasemiire]

@pmwathi exactly.....!! but because kenya rejected God, times are coming that will be worse than the Moi days, that is all i'm saying.

[Gee114]

@truphie...come on surely you don't believe in this ridiculous colonial remnant..The uniforms are ugly, not design oriented and most of all the shorts for boys is just an embarrassment. sadly we are in a capitalist world. Even in the streets everybody wears what he can afford and that should also apply in schools.

[truphie]

All we need is 8 years of primary for the basic foundation. By class 8 someone should know what they want to be. Then split them according to that, doctors,chefs, businessmen, IT. give them 2 years thorough introduction then 4 years uni. so 8-2-4. finished. No need to waste time choosing subjects and doing agriculture when you want to be a computer programmer.

[truphie]

@Gee114 Heck no! do not scrap uniforms. Uniforms are there for exactly what their name says. Uniformity. Imagine what some children will be wearing to school, especially the well off ones. it will cause further division and theft.

[chaaza100]

Having gone through the 8-4-4 system, it is just a case of memorising material and regurgitating the material in the exam. There is no emphasis on how the material relates to the real world at all. My son currently studying in the UK, however MUST learn how to apply what he has learnt in his lessons to the real world. To be honest, If I were to sit the exams that he sits I would surely fail if I followed the same techniques I used in the 8-4-4 system.

[pmwathi]

@lkasemiire Not to hate, but those yrs already went by without a single cry. Moi is only but a man not God

[Gee114]

The major change that i like in this system is the harmonization of the school and university academic calendars. Two long semesters and and one long summer break and a short end of December-beginning of Jan break...In our current system the students lose precious time between school and university. Now they will do their exams in May/June and be admitted to universities in September.

[Gee114]

Only in Kenya does the education system has to have a weird name...what is 8-4-4 or 2-6-6-3-3

? Why not copy the working education in developed countries? It's not like we have to re-invent the wheel....Hong Kong, Finland and Japan have some of the best education systems in the world lets look at their systems and make it our own.....The important thing is curriculum...its what matters...

[Gee114]

Why not scrap uniforms while you are at it..Saves the parents a lot of money...Here in Germany all lower school learn till midday then they go home. Scrap Boarding schools too and convert the Dorms to classes...

[kangol007able]

Having traveled to North America and now working in S.E Asia I am glad to say you are on the right track.The system works so well ,saves time and most of all money.Why teach calculus to a chef?