The teacher is of course an artist, but being an artist does not mean that he or she can make the profile, can shape the students. What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.” –Paulo Freire

The Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), a practical and workable educational system that focuses on nurturing children from an early age, was launched in 2017 to address the deficiencies of the previous 8-4-4 system. Instead of relying on the student’s ability to replicate the content in a test paper, CBC intends for students to use the material in practical and real-world settings. This system is student-centred and intended to produce students who are prepared to face and solve problems of the 21st century.

Some parents and students have expressed quite reasonable worries and concerns about the announcement and rollout of CBC. After all, this is not replacing dated curtains to give your house a fresh look – this is the future of your child, Kenya, Africa, and the entire world.

In apt form, Nova Pioneer Schools for Innovators and Leaders have done just that! They have innovated, adapted and are ready to lead the new dawn in what promises to be a vivification in the Kenyan educational system. 

In preparing our teachers for this new role, we have gone above and beyond what was expected of us. The Ministry of Education will provide training, but we are providing additional professional development for our teachers so that they can develop a thorough understanding of CBC and an ability to administer with the diligence that Kenya’s future demands.

With the gradual implementation of CBC, we are prepared and supportive of the last class of 8-4-4, our current class 7 students, who will take their K.C.P.E exams in 2023. Our 8-4-4 and CBC students consistently receive equal attention and high-quality instruction.

In response to our parents’ requests, CBC Grade 7 students will now have the option to enrol in either a day or boarding school as they advance from CBC Grade 6 to CBC Grade 7. Our 8-4-4 students who are scheduled to finish their KCPE in 2023 will continue to receive support at their existing campus and will have the option of attending a Nova Pioneer Day or Boarding secondary school.

We have taken a holistic approach to embracing and mastering CBC, from admissions to the classroom; it has to be mentioned that so much of what we are already offering is well suited for CBC:

• The holistic student outcomes that we strive for – The 3C’s that we aim to develop in each Novaneer student: Capability, Character & Connection – match well with CBC benefits and intent, namely that of developing the best interests and talents of the student;
• Our enquiry-based teaching methods that promote student voice and reasoning is precisely the kind of instruction that CBC envisions and that can make it great;
• Our in-house learning design capabilities and team enable us to research, adapt, and enrich CBC curriculum for our teachers and students;
• Our professional teacher development practices — supported by our culture principles of Always Growing and Joy of Learning — give our teachers the mindset to actively learn and constantly get better at new practices.

We will continue to provide the best education possible for our students, give them the resources they need to develop into upright citizens, increase their connections to the global community by increasing their likelihood of participating in initiatives such as Model United Nations or Yale’s Young Learners programme, and we will continue to work hard for their success through our unique Post-School programme even after they graduate from our school.

Ours is a life long relationship, a camaraderie, and we invite our current and prospective parents and students  to dialogue about the plans we have made for the future innovators and leaders of the African century.

Admissions for 2023 are currently ongoing. Click here to enrol your child.