PARENTS PUSH FOR BIGGER ROLE IN CBE — NPA DEMANDS NATIONWIDE FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING CAMPAIGN
By News Brief The National Parents Association of Kenya (NPA) has commended the Government for its continued support of Competency-Based Education (CBE), while calling for stronger involvement of parents in the implementation of the education reforms.
In a public statement, NPA said the successful transition to CBE requires sustained government support, adequate resources and, crucially, active participation by parents as key stakeholders in their children’s education.
The association welcomed support from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for the training of County Parents Association CBE Champions, saying the initiative will help bridge the information gap between education policymakers and parents.
NPA, however, wants the training programme expanded to the grassroots through a cascade model of National → County → Sub-County → Ward → School → Household, arguing that parents across the country must have an opportunity to understand CBE and participate meaningfully in its implementation.
The association also praised KICD leadership under Professor Charles Ong’ondo for supporting stakeholder sensitisation on curriculum implementation, learner competencies, assessment, placement, Grade 10 transition and Senior School pathways.
‘FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING IS THE MOTHER OF CBE’
At the heart of the NPA’s statement is a call for greater national attention to foundational learning.
The association argues that children cannot effectively develop advanced competencies without first acquiring strong abilities in reading, writing, numeracy, communication, reasoning and independent learning.
NPA says foundational learning must not be viewed as the responsibility of teachers alone, insisting that schools, homes and communities must work together to create an environment where children can continuously learn and practise essential skills.
Parents, the association says, should read with their children, support homework, encourage curiosity and communication, practise basic numeracy, monitor learning progress and maintain close communication with teachers.
NPA TO CS: PARTNER WITH PARENTS
NPA has issued a direct appeal to the Cabinet Secretary for Education to establish a practical partnership with the association for a nationwide parental sensitisation programme on foundational learning.
The proposed programme would educate parents on what foundational learning means, why it is critical to CBE, how to support reading and numeracy at home, how to identify learning difficulties and how parents can work more effectively with teachers.
NPA says it is ready to use its nationwide structures and leadership network to support the initiative.
The association further called for closer cooperation among the Ministry of Education, KICD, KNEC, TSC, schools, parents and communities, saying education transformation cannot succeed through isolated institutional efforts.
NPA National Chairman Silas David Obuhatsa said parents must no longer be treated as spectators in Kenya’s education reforms but as full partners in transforming the country’s education system.
The association concluded with a clear message:
“CBE IS A NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION. PARENTS ARE NOT SPECTATORS. PARENTS ARE PARTNERS. FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING IS THE MOTHER OF CBE.”
