© Victor Ochieng’
Comparatively, in the 8-4-4 System of Education, secondary schools are categorised as national, extra-county, county and sub-county schools. National, extra-county and county secondary schools are single-sex boarding schools. Whereas, most sub-county schools are mixed day or boarding schools.
Key Considerations in Categorisation
In the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Senior Schools (Grades 10-12), will be categorised by sex, pathways, accommodation and special needs. This categorisation is to ensure effective management of learners from Junior to Senior Schools, equitable allocation of resources and impressive implementation of education policies.
Pathways and Accommodation Type
Ideally, in the categorisation by sex, there will be mixed-sex and single-sex schools. By pathway, there will be Triple Pathways Schools and Dual Pathways Schools. Then, categorisation by accommodation type, there will be Day Schools and Hybrid Schools (Day and Boarding Schools). There will be 3 Career Pathways at Senior School. They include: Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). With this knowledge, then you understand what Triple Pathway Schools are poised to offer. That is, all the aforesaid 3 Career Pathways: Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Regarding the Dual Pathway Schools, there will either be STEAMS or STEMS. That is, STEAMS: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Arts Sports Science. Then, STEMS: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Social Sciences. In addition, Day Schools will be those institutions where learners commute daily from their homes. Meaning, they will not be residing in schools. About the Hybrid Schools (Day and Boarding Schools); these will be institutions where some learners will commute daily from their homes, and will not be residing in schools. Likewise, in the same institutions, there will be provided with on-school residential facilities where they live, study and participate in extra-curricular activities.
Moreover, there will be Triple Pathway Day Schools, which will be institutions offering the 3 Career Pathways for learners attending school during the day and returning home in the evening. There will be Dual Pathway Day Schools, which will be institutions offering 2 Career Pathways for learners attending school during the day and returning home in the evening. Triple Pathway Hybrid Schools will offer the 3 Career Pathways, with some learners attending school during the day, and returning home, while others reside in school. Dual Pathway Hybrid Schools will offer 2 Career Pathways with some learners attending school during the day and returning home in the evening, while others reside in school.
Special Needs and Vocational Schools
Furthermore, under the categorisation under Special Needs, there will be Special Needs Schools, which will offer education to learners who experience difficulties within the mainstream education system. These are learners abled differently; with hearing, visual or physical impairment. Then, there will be Vocational Schools, which will offer vocational education to learners who are following the Stage-Based Education Pathway. This is designed to equip special needs learners with practical skills and technical knowledge; intending to prepare them for various career pathways. This system is integrated into CBC to churn out well-rounded graduates ready for the demands of the modern and dynamic world of work.
Factors Influencing Categorisation
Finally, in this twelfth treatise on CBC, I can cite: Mandarins at the Ministry of Education, will consider three important factors while categorising Senior School. The first factor will be flexibility; allowing learners to transfer between various Career Pathways in case they experience changes in aspirations, interests and abilities. The second factor will be partnerships; focusing on collaboration with industry, universities and tertiary institutions; enhancing career and technical education in Senior Schools. That is, Senior Schools should have the freedom and volition to develop puissant partnerships with other institutions. The third factor will be infrastructure; ensuring that each category has necessary resources such as laboratories, workshops, studios, et cetera; for optimal development of learners.
The writer rolls out career talks and training services. He guides Grade 9 Learners on Career Pathways, Tracks and Selection of specific Learning Areas in CBC.
vochieng.90@ggmail.com. 0704420232