Influence of Teachers' In-Service Training Content on Implementation of Competence-Based Curriculum in Public Primary Schools in Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

The global shifts towards Competence Base Curriculum (CBC) implementation in education has necessitated the pivotal role of trainers in-service training content. Equipping teachers with relevant content during the in-service training sessions impacts on the success of CBC implementation. This study examined the relevance of in-service training content on implementing Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in public primary schools in Kilifi County, Kenya. The study objectives sought to assess how these training programmes equip teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary for CBC. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study analysed educators' survey responses regarding their training experiences. Results revealed a mixed evaluation: 56.5% of educators found the school-based training model inadequate, 62.9% rated curriculum support officers as adequate, and 30.3% still found them lacking. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) was deemed adequate by 49.3% of educators, and 43.2% found the Ministry of Education's training satisfactory, yet 17% reported inadequacies. Notably, 72.3% of educators reported that training lacked sufficient interactive and hands-on elements, and 77.2% found the training duration inadequate. The study concludes that while current training programmes offer valuable insights, refinement is needed. The study recommends that there is need of increasing practical and interactive components in training sessions to engage educators better and improve hands-on application. Furthermore, there is quest of enhancing ICT integration and modern teaching techniques, extending training duration and tailoring content to specific educator needs are crucial for effective CBC implementation.