Parents turn to holiday tuition as CBC curriculum poses new learning hurdles

Vivian Akinyi, a teacher, has observed that while most of her students thrive in practical programmes, they often struggle with subjects that demand deeper understanding and comprehension in the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) mainly due to low retention and concentration span across different grades

The average attention span in the digital age continues to decline, especially among younger generations. Research shows that it has decreased from approximately two and a half minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today, a 66 per cent drop over the past two decades.

This substantial reduction in attention spans presents significant challenges for students in the classroom, impacting their capacity to learn and retain information effectively.

She notes that many students lose interest, even during exams, leading several parents to seek coaching for their children. Some feel they cannot motivate their children to study at home during the holidays because they are busy with work.

“Many parents feel caught between a rock and a hard place. The new curriculum is unfamiliar to them, and they’re unsure how to help their children navigate these challenges and as a result, they are relying heavily on teachers, even during the holiday season, to keep their kids on track.”

She notes that while some people think the CBC is solely about creative activities and projects, it requires concentration.

“There are important academic subjects that students must master, but many find it difficult to concentrate on these subjects,” she says.

She has witnessed several cases where children are assigned holiday homework that they struggle to complete at home. “Parents often come back to us asking for help with assignments, creating a tough balancing act for everyone involved.”

The holiday season, which should be a time of relaxation, has become increasingly stressful for parents, especially those with children in Grade 5, who are expected to sit for exams next year, and those with Grade 8 students transitioning to the next level.

“The pressure to prepare for these assessments is overshadowing the joy of the holidays,” Vivian notes.

She recommends establishing a daily study routine, even if it’s just for an hour, to help children balance playtime with their studies. "Tuition alone isn’t sufficient; studying needs to become a habit, and parents must collaborate with teachers to support their children’s learning rather than relying solely on educators for their children’s overall well-being."

Ronald Juma, a father of three from Pumwani, has turned to teachers for help during this holiday season to support his children’s learning. He finds it easier during the first and second terms when the children can attend remedial classes at school.

“During the first and second terms, I paid for my children to go to school for half a day during the holidays. Since I don’t fully understand the CBC, I think it’s best for them to learn from teachers who are familiar with it,” he explains.

Juma would pay about Sh150 daily for these sessions, and he noticed a significant improvement in his children's comprehension.

“I even arranged for personal one-on-one sessions to help them grasp the subjects better, especially since I saw them struggling with simple tasks like reading,” he adds.

However, he finds the third term more challenging, as he has struggled to find tutors since many are travelling for the holidays. “I would have loved for my children to stay focused during this time,” he says.

Juma has purchased numerous revision books, but he finds the frequent changes in curriculum materials confusing.

“There isn’t a single revision book that my children can rely on, and I’m unsure about what will work for them,” he says.

Lilian Njeri, a mother of one, has decided to enrol her daughter in a daycare and tuition facility to help manage her busy schedule as a hairdresser. With her demanding job, she often lacks the time to teach her child or even understand what she’s learning at school.

“The holiday tuition program is a great initiative to ensure my daughter doesn’t forget everything she has learned in school,” she explains.

Lilian is aware of the pressures of these assessments. “If I don’t keep my child engaged with her studies, she may have a hard time during the exam period.”

She believes that holiday tuition provides a valuable opportunity for children to catch up, especially since many teachers focus solely on completing the syllabus during regular school days. “That’s why I prefer to take my daughter to tuition—so she can revise what was taught in school,” she adds.

Additionally, Lilian has taken this approach to help keep her daughter away from screens and focused on her studies. “It’s important to me that she stays engaged with her learning,” she emphasises, highlighting her commitment to her daughter’s education during this critical time.