The Functions of The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) was established by the Government of Kenya on the 14th of January 2013 under an Act of Parliament- Act No.4 of 2013.. It also evaluates vets and approves the curricular and curriculum support materials for basic and tertiary education, as well as offering curriculum based consultancy services in basic and tertiary education and training.

KICD is the Successor of the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) which was established in 1968 by Education Act, Cap 211, of the laws of Kenya, and its legal status defined in the 1976 KIE Order, issued through Legal Notice No. 105 of 1976, as provided for by the Act. Amendments to this Order are made by Legal Notice No. 144 of 1980, and Legal Notice No. 126 of 1984.

But the origin of the KIE dates as far back as 1957 when an English Special Centre (ESC) was set up in Nairobi for the purpose of coordinating and advising the Ministry of Education on the teaching of English. This was followed in, 1961, by a Science Center with an aim of promoting the standards of science teaching in the country. In 1965, a Mathematics Center was also set up to develop and implement the then new mathematics curriculum for schools. These three centers were amalgamated in January 1966 to form a Curriculum Development and Research Centre (CDRC). CDRC was also to incorporate all the other subjects.

Also evolving at that period was a center for teacher education programmes, known as the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE). KIE was established in April 1964 as a direct result of the Conference of Institutes of Education, which was held in Mombasa, Kenya, in January 1964. The then University of East Africa, in conjunction with the ministries of education of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and other interested bodies, sponsored the conference. The then KIE was based at Kenyatta College (now university), and had the following functions:

• Administer scheme of college examinations;
• Recommend to the Ministry of Education on the award of certificates;
• Serve as a center for professional activity for teachers, officers of the government and others involved in educational work;
• Promote and cooperate in the provision of conference and in-service courses for teachers and others engaged in, or intending to engage in educational work.
• Arrange for lectures and overseas courses of lecturers;
• Promote educational research and secure due publication of the results;
• Foster improvements in educational practice;
• Provide advisory services to the Government and other organizations.

CDRC served in the membership of KIE panels. In 1966 the CDRC and the Kenya Institute of Education were merged to form the current Kenya Institute of Education with its location at the then Central Teachers College, Nairobi. The Central Teachers College was relocated to the Kenya Science Teachers College, Nairobi.

Another addition KIE was the education media service, which had started in 1963 as a School Broadcasting unit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and based at Mombasa House, Nairobi. In 1965, the unit was taken over by the Ministry of Education, and in July 1976 it was moved to KIE, and became the Educational Media Service (EMS) with expanded responsibilities of the production of multimedia learning resources.

Further Developments

Over the years, the role of the Institute has expanded to respond to emerging needs including:

The Government of Kenya established the e-Government Programme in June 2004. It has since then committed itself towards achieving an effective and operational e-Government to facilitate better and efficient delivery of information and services to the citizens, promote productivity among public servants, encourage participation of citizens in Government and empower all Kenyans.

“KICD Functions : Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development,” Kicd.ac.ke, 2021, https://kicd.ac.ke/about-us/kicd-functions/.

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development is mandated to perform some of the following functions:

1. Advises the Government on matters pertaining to curriculum development
2. Evaluate, vet and approve, for application in Kenya, any local and foreign curricula and curriculum support materials in relation to the levels of education and training” referred to in bullet (4)
3. Implement the policies relating to curriculum development in basic and tertiary education and training;
4. Develop, review and approve programs, curricula and curriculum support materials that meet international standards for—
   1.  Early childhood care, development and education;
   2.  Pre-primary education;
   3.  Primary education;
   4.  Secondary education;
   5.  Adult, continuing and non-formal education;
   6.  Teacher education and training;
   7.  Special needs education; and
   8. Technical and vocational education and training.
5. Initiate and conduct research to inform curriculum policies, review and development.
6. Collect document and catalogue information on curricula, curriculum support materials and innovations to create a data bank and disseminate the information to educational institutions, learners and other relevant organizations
7. Print, publish and disseminate information relating to curricula for basic and tertiary education and training
8. Collaborate with other individuals and institutions in organizing and conducting professional development programs for teachers, teacher trainers, quality assurance and standards officers and other officers involved in education and training on curriculum programs and materials
9. Develop disseminate and transmit programs and curriculum support materials through mass media, electronic learning, distance learning and any other mode of delivering education and training programs and materials
10. Promote equity and access to quality curricula and curriculum support materials
11. Promote appropriate utilization of technology to enhance innovations and achievement of a knowledge based economy
12. Offer consultancy services in basic and tertiary education and training
13. Incorporate national values, talent development and leadership values in curriculum development
14. Receive, consider, develop and review curriculum proposals

Citations

“KICD Functions : Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.” Kicd.ac.ke, 2021. https://kicd.ac.ke/about-us/kicd-functions/.

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