I did the last Certificate of Primary Education [CPE] in 1983 in 7-4-2-3 system and repeated due to lack of school fees, and did the first Kenya Certificate of Primary School [KCPE] in 1985 in 8-4-4 system. At confluence of two systems, I noted 8-4-4 was in conflict on characteristic behaviors of adolescents milestones.
Most of pupils and student in secondary level of education are either in early adolescence or middle adolescence age bracket within 10 to 16 years old. A critical cohort on the process of adolescent psychological and social development is characterized by a range of normal adolescent behavior.
Let me start as para medic what learnt on cognitive development on adolescence; finds abstract thought difficult at onset of adolescence only to start to develop abstract thought at middle adolescence, challenges authority, parents, and other family members, and moves away from parents towards strong peer-group influence, hence prone into hysterical tendencies
To remedy this, in my view, 7-4-2-3 system had it. And this how. At ordinary level [O.Level] there was democracy at Form 3 to cater for abstract thinking cognitive development milestone. In that ,a learner was to evaluate him or herself whether good in science or humanities subjects. After which they transit to Advanced Level [A Level] to study only three subjects combination.
Generally, it was a process that helped an individual to choose the right career profession passionately. Showed learner the way to attain the desired profession at A Level’s subjects specialization by own choice unlike 8-4-4 system where all subjects were clustered together against learners abilities.
Having mixed with both systems at Maralal High School from 1986 to 1989 when the last and first exams of 7-4-2-3 and 8-4-4 systems respectively were done. I observed frustrations on 8-4-4 system stream learners on been forced to do either sciences or arts subjects which were not good at, while 7-4-2-3 were having good day doing subject of their choice. End result; first strike erupted in history of Maralal Boys High School since it inception engineered by 8-4-4 stream.
According to literature on the Competency-Based Curriculum [CBC], and the global education trends. So, CBC in a nutshell has clear advantages in that it is not exam-oriented, it focuses on learner interests and talents, and it creates intelligible career pathways all the way from pre-primary to tertiary education just kind perfecting 7-4-2-3 which churned out professionals in different fields of economy and Kenyan was doing better before half-baked 8-4-4 professionals crashed it [economy].
So, CBC system if well implemented, it will a remedy of schools unrest in long run in my view.