The Ministry of Education has introduced a number of changes to the composition and structure of all Co- curricular activities; effective this year. The changes were communicated to the Ministry’s field officers for dissemination to learning institutions; via a circular dated 28th January, 2019. The Ministry has expunged some Co- curricular activities, while bringing new ones on board in some disciplines. Here is a recap of the circular.
REFORMS IN CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Co-curricular Activities are significant in ensuring that all learners develop all necessary competencies and values to enable them grow holistically.
In view of this, the Ministry of Education has embarked on a review of the co-curricular activities calendar and the management of the same at various levels. Some of the changes have already been communicated to the field offices. The following are further adjustments done during stakeholders retreat held at Machakos University from 8th to 10th October, 2018
CHANGES IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS GAMES AND SPORTS.
- The disciplines are now clustered into term one and term two games and sports.
- Rugby 15s and 7s wl be done in term one. The number of participants in Rugby 15s has been reduced to twenty (20), while in Rugby 7s reduced to eleven (11)
- Decathlon and heptathlon have been expunged from the calendar. Cross country will be done in term one.
- .Where possible, the KSSSA (Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association) and SNE (Special Needs Education) games will have joint activities/ceremonies
- All invitations for workshops/training/tournaments on sports should be channeled through the RCEs (Regional Coordinators of Education), CDEs (County Directors of Education) and SCDEs (Sub- County Directors of Education) for approval depending on the level.
- Circular Ref. MOE/HQS/3/4/15/Vol 11(239), section K’ 2nd bullet, facilitation of team officials includes, team managers, chaperons, coaches and executive committee members. During the national KSSSA games, the Ministry of Education headquarters will pay allowances to the referees.
- The general management committees cited in the above circular will mainly have the functions of receiving proposed budget from specific technical committees, scrutinize, rationalize and approve. The chairman from each activity will present the budget prepared by the specific technical committee he is the chairperson.
- At the regional level, the Regional Coordinator of Education will pay for the teams accommodation, while at the national level the Ministry of Education headquarter will pay for the teams accommodation.
NEW REFORMS IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS GAMES AND SPORTS.
- The disciplines are clustered into term I and II. Athletics will be held in April and ball games in August.
- Kids athletics, gymnastics and netball boys expunged from the calendar of activities
CHANGES MADE TO THE KENYA MUSIC FESTIVAL.
- Kenya Music Festival has reduced categories removing those that were a duplication to drama and merging those categories that had similarities.
- The trainers will be guided by the Kenya Music Festival syllabus.
- All categories in State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education will go through preliminaries including Special Needs Education. That means there will be no Direct Entries at those levels apart from Teachers Training Colleges due to their calendar
CHANGES MADE TO THE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR.
- Introduction of an extra competition class “behaviour and social sciences” category
- . Young Scientist Kenya (YSK) exhibition will be a premier competition for winners of KSEF (Kenya Science and Engineering Fair) and other science fair. It will not be competed at the other levels apart from the nationals.
REFORMS IN THE KENYA NATIONAL DRAMA AND FILM FESTIVAL.
- . The Kenya National Drama Festival reduced the number of participants in various genres
- The number of entries to the national level per genre was reduced
- .Trainers will be guided by the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival rules and regulations
- All genres will go through preliminaries including special needs education
CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION, PRIMARY GAMES AND SPORTS
- Areas removed in Ball Games and Athletics:
- 1. The activity days have been reduced from six to five days at the national level.
- Visually Impaired Discipline activities removed:
- o T12 to T13
- o Junior races
- o Javelin
- o Ring ball
- o Fustal
- Hearing Impaired:
- o 50m under Tern
- o 100M under Ten
- o 200m under Ten
- o Penalty shootout under Ten
- Physically Challenged:
- o Tennis
- o Table Tennis
- o Table Tennis wheelchair
- .Deaf Blind:
- o 25m Race Boys and Girls
- o 50m Sack race Boys and Girls
- o Obstacle race Boys and Girls
- o Gymnastics
- Mentally Challenged
- o 200m x 25m relay
- o 100m 1000m Male
- o 800m 4x400m relay
- Football Female
- o Netball Mixed
CHANGES MADE TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION SECONDARY GAMES AND SPORTS
- Number of days reduced from six to five at the national level
- . Number of officials attending the clinic reduced from 25 to 15
The following activities were removed:
- Physically Challenged
o Walk-upper amputees (boys and girls)
o Races – long distance for upper amputees, able-bodied Wheel chair bound (boys and girls)
o Ball games mixed disability foota amputee football, netball
2. Visually impaired
o Races 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, (T, T12, T13)
o Jumps – F1 , F12, F13
o Long jump FI1, F12, F13
3. Hearing Impaired
o Long races 10,000m, 8000m, 3000m, 2000m, 3000m flat for boys
o Jumps high jump and pole vault
o Throws -hammer
o Ball games- netball, girls soccer, basketball
3. Merged with long races cross country, marathon steeple chase
NB: In Performing Arts, and at every level, the entity (Sub-county, County and Region) should only take care of the number of teams they can afford in terms of subsistence, accommodation of students, transport, officials allowances and taking the team to the next level.
These reforms would lead to a drastic decline in the numbers of participants expected to grace the championships at various levels. See more details in the news feature, below: