PS Bitok: CBC will transform Kenya from third-world to first-world nation
By Nancy Marende, January 2, 2026Ministry of Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok has defended the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), saying it is the most transformative education reform Kenya has ever undertaken and will play a key role in moving the country from a third-world to a first-world nation.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, January 1, 2026, PS Bitok said the state is deliberately working to create equity across the education sector, particularly for learners in rural and marginalised areas where access and exposure have historically been unequal.
“It is a fact that in some rural areas, exposure to education is not the same,” he said, noting that CBC is designed to ensure every learner, regardless of background, is given a fair chance to succeed.
According to the PS, one of the major changes under CBC was the scrapping of rigid school classifications such as national and extra-county schools, which he said often limited learners’ opportunities. Under the new system, learners are encouraged to pursue pathways aligned with their talents and passions.
“With CBC, if your passion is STEM, you should be able to go to a school that offers STEM. If your pathway is sports, arts or creative talent, you should be able to attend a school that supports that,” Bitok explained.
He added that the government has also adopted a new revenue allocation formula developed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) to support fairness in education funding that considers several factors, including learner performance, county population, geographical characteristics and poverty levels.
Bitok said the application of the CRA formula has helped create a more level playing field, ensuring resources are distributed in a way that gives every learner equal opportunity to thrive.
“CBC is the best education system that this country could ever have and this is the education system that is going to transform Kenya fron third world to first world,” he added.