The shift to Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has been one of the most significant changes in education in a generation. For Acacia Ridge School, it has been an opportunity, not a challenge.

“CBC asks us to teach children how to think, not just what to think,” said Head of School Mrs. Margaret Waweru. “We had already been moving in this direction, project-based learning, learner-centred classrooms, collaborative assessment. CBC formalised what we believe.”

Since the curriculum rollout, Acacia Ridge has invested heavily in teacher training, resourcing classrooms with manipulatives and digital learning aids, and redesigning its assessment approach to focus on competency demonstration rather than rote recall.

Parents have responded positively. “My daughter is doing more practical projects now and she loves school more than ever,” said one Primary School parent. “She comes home and tells me what she built or discovered that day, not just what she memorised.”

The school will be hosting a CBC Information Evening for parents in April. Families are encouraged to attend to learn more about the competency pathways, portfolio assessments, and how to support CBC learning at home.