Proverbs as a Teaching Medium in Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum
Loading...
Date
2022-08-31
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)
Abstract
The Kenya Government through the Ministry of Education launched a new system of education
referred to as Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum (KCBC) in 2017.The new curriculum is designed to
develop and apply knowledge and skills in real life situations. Core competencies in KCBC are:
communication and collaboration, self-efficacy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and
imagination, citizenship, digital literacy and learning to learn. It is expected that at the end of the learning
period the learners will have these values inculcated in them: love, responsibility, respect, unity, peace,
patriotism and integrity. This paper proceeds from the understanding that teaching methodologies play an
important role in achieving set objectives. The new curriculum thus provides a unique opportunity to the
stakeholders in education to excavate the indigenous African knowledge in the course of imparting the
required skills to the learners. This paper utilises one important genre of this knowledge: proverbs. The paper
will examine how proverbs can be used in the teaching and learning context to inculcate moral values spelt
out in KCBC.The parents, teachers and the community have a role to play in bringing up morally upright
citizens and this training should start at an early age. Proverbs can provide learners with a genuine learning
context, a focus to communicate, appreciate their cultural heritage, develop emotional intelligence and
creativity. Proverbs from some Kenyan communities will be used in this paper to show that indeed if used in
the instructional process, students can learn values from an early age and be good at communication.