Basic Education Curriculum Framework

1 Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 1 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens KENYA INSTITUTE OF Curriculum DEVELOPMENT Basic Education Curriculum Framework 2017 REPUBLIC OF KENYA Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 2 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 1 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens ' The Heartbeat oEducation' REPUBLIC OF KENYA Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 3 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Foreword The Basic Education Curriculum Framework (BECF) is the outcome of extensive stakeholder engagement, a national needs assessment study, deliberations from a national Curriculum reform conference and several benchmarking studies.

2 The Framework is aligned to the Constitution of Kenya, Vision 2030, the East African Community Curriculum Harmonization Structures and Framework , and other policy documents that express the aspirations of the country. The BECF is based on pillars which are anchored on values and underpinned by theoretical approaches and guiding principles. The BECF has been developed to actualise the Curriculum reforms. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive conceptualisation of reforms in Basic Education ; pre-primary Education , primary Education , secondary Education , and inclusive Education . The Framework outlines the vision for the Curriculum reforms, including the overarching mission, the pillars of the reforms, the organisation of Basic Education , core competencies to be achieved in Basic Education , Curriculum approaches adopted in the Framework , general learning outcomes, Subjects and subjects, necessary policies that will facilitate implementation of the Curriculum reforms, appropriate pedagogical practices, proposed formative and summative assessment approaches, teaching and learning resources, and other critical issues that will contribute to the success of the reforms.

3 This Framework is expected to catalyse the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030. It is my hope that all educators at all levels of Education and training will anchor their provision of Basic and teacher Education on this Framework . Dr Fred Matiang i Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 4 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the various individuals and organisations in the development of the Basic Education Curriculum Framework . KICD is indebted to the National Steering Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang i, for providing leadership to the entire process.

4 The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education , Dr Belio Kipsang, and other senior Ministry of Education Officials were quite instrumental in providing important insights in critical policy issues that gave shape to the Framework . I wish to thank both the National Assembly and the Senate, and specifically the members the Education Committee, for taking time to share their thoughts on important legislative issues that required consideration in the Framework . The Institute is indebted to Mr Peter Hall Jones through the British Council for providing technical support to conceptualisation, design and development of the Framework . I applaud the members of the KICD Curriculum Reforms Technical Committee and Curriculum developers for their tireless efforts to develop the Framework .

5 I also wish to acknowledge the support of the following organisations for their support during the development of the Framework : 1. Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies 2. Development Partners, including UNICEF and UNESCO 3. Religious organisations, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations 4. The various KICD Subject Panels and the Academic Committee for validation and approval of the Framework 5. Ministry of Education Consultants I also extend my gratitude to the stakeholders who attended the many forums, including the National Conference and discussed the Framework extensively. Last, but not least, I acknowledge the support of Ms Debbie Howard and Mr Peter Douglas of the British Council, for editing and copy editing the Framework respectively.

6 Dr Julius O. Jwan Director/CEO Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 5 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Table of Contents Foreword .. 3 Acknowledgements .. 4 Table of Contents .. 5 Definition of Terms .. 8 Background Information .. 8 Curriculum Reforms 10 Curriculum Reforms Mission .. 10 National Goals of Education .. 11 Basic Education Curriculum Framework Pillars .. 13 13 Theoretical Approaches .. 14 Guiding Principles .. 19 Core Competencies for Basic Education .. 21 Subjects .. 27 Organization of Basic Education .. 27 Early Years 28 Learning Outcomes for Early Years Education .

7 29 Pre-primary Education .. 30 Essence Statements for the Pre-primary Curriculum .. 30 Subjects .. 32 Essence Statements for Lower Primary .. 32 Middle School Education .. 34 Learning Outcomes for Middle 35 Upper Primary .. 36 Subjects for Upper Primary .. 36 Essence Statements for Upper Primary School .. 37 Secondary Education .. 40 Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 6 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Lower Secondary .. 40 Subjects for Lower Secondary School .. 41 Essence Statements for Lower Secondary School .. 42 Senior School .. 51 Senior School .. 51 Learning Outcomes for Senior 52 Pathways .. 52 Arts and Sports Science Pathway.

8 55 Subjects in Senior School .. 66 Essence Statements for Senior School .. 70 Education for Learners with Special Educational Needs ..102 Pertinent and Contemporary Issues in the Curriculum ..110 Assessment ..113 Guiding Principles of competency Based Assessment ..116 Assessment Instruments for Formative Assessment ..118 Performance Indicators ..123 teacher Capacity for Formative Assessment ..124 competency Assessment for Learners with Special Educational Needs ..127 Capacity Building Framework for a competency Based Curriculum ..128 Learning Outcomes for Capacity Building of Curriculum Implementers ..130 Sustainability of Continuous Professional Development ..133 References ..135 APPENDIX 1: Rational for Distribution of learner s in the Pathways at Senior School.

9 141 Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 7 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Acronyms and Abbreviations AU African Union BECF Basic Education Curriculum Framework CBC competency Based Curriculum CSL Community Service Learning CTS Career and Technology Studies ECDE Early Childhood Development and Education ESD Education for Sustainable Development ET Engineering Technology GCED Global Citizenship Education ICT Information and Communication Technology IEP Individualized Educational Plan KIE Kenya Institute of Education KICD Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development KNEC Kenya National Examinations Council KCBC LSE Kenya Competence Based Curriculum Life Skills Education LSV Life Skills and Values PCI Pertinent and Contemporary Issues SNE Special Needs

10 Education SS Senior School STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics TSC Teachers' Service Commission VTC Vocational Training Centres Basic Education Curriculum Framework Nurturing Every Learner s Potential 8 Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens Definition of Terms Activities of Daily Living Skills: This subject is concerned with helping learners with disabilities become as independent as possible in the environment in which they live, so that they can function safely at their highest capacity. It includes skills such as eating, dressing, personal hygiene, mobility, toileting, exploring the environment and behaviour management. Adaptation of Syllabuses: The adjustment to or modification of the Curriculum to accommodate the learning requirements of learners with special educational needs in areas which cannot be accessed despite assistive aids and additional learning materials.