Basic Education Curriculum Framework                                                            Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential 
         
         
                           REPUBLIC OF KENYA 
         
         
                       Basic Education  
               Curriculum Framework 
                                                        2017  
               KENYA INSTITUTE OF CURRICULUM  DEVELOPMENT 
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                        Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens 
                Basic Education Curriculum Framework                                                            Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential 
                               Basic Education Curriculum Framework                                                            Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential 
                                
                                
                                                                  REPUBLIC OF KENYA 
                                                                   
                                
                                                              
                                                                2 
                                             Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens 
                                                                               1 
                                                            Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens 
                                                   ' The Heartbeat oEducation' 
        Basic Education Curriculum Framework                                                            Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential 
         
        Foreword 
         
        The Basic Education Curriculum Framework (BECF) is the outcome of extensive stakeholder 
        engagement, a national needs assessment study, deliberations from a national curriculum reform 
        conference and several benchmarking studies. The Framework is aligned to the Constitution of 
        Kenya, Vision 2030, the East African Community Curriculum Harmonization Structures and 
        Framework, and other policy documents that express the aspirations of the country. The BECF is 
        based on pillars which are anchored on values and underpinned by theoretical approaches and 
        guiding principles. 
        The BECF has been developed to actualise the curriculum reforms. Its purpose is to provide a 
        comprehensive conceptualisation of reforms in basic education; pre-primary education, primary 
        education, secondary education, and inclusive education. The Framework outlines the vision for 
        the  curriculum  reforms,  including  the  overarching  mission,  the  pillars  of  the  reforms,  the 
        organisation of basic education, core competencies to be achieved in basic education, curriculum 
        approaches  adopted  in  the  Framework,  general  learning  outcomes,  Subjects  and  subjects, 
        necessary  policies  that  will  facilitate  implementation  of  the  curriculum  reforms,  appropriate 
        pedagogical practices, proposed formative and summative assessment approaches, teaching and 
        learning resources, and other critical issues that will contribute to the success of the reforms. 
        This Framework is expected to catalyse the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030. It is my 
        hope that all educators at all levels of education and training will anchor their provision of basic 
        and teacher education on this Framework. 
         
         
        Dr Fred Matiang’i 
        Cabinet Secretary 
        Ministry of Education     
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                      Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens 
        Basic Education Curriculum Framework                                                            Nurturing Every Learner’s Potential 
        Acknowledgements 
         
        I wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of the various individuals and organisations in 
        the development of the Basic Education Curriculum Framework. 
        KICD is indebted to the National Steering Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred 
        Matiang‟i, for providing leadership to the entire process. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 
        Education, Dr Belio Kipsang, and other senior Ministry of Education Officials were quite 
        instrumental in providing important insights in critical policy issues that gave shape to the 
        Framework. 
        I wish to thank both the National Assembly and the Senate, and specifically the members the 
        Education Committee, for taking time to share their thoughts on important legislative issues that 
        required consideration in the Framework.  
        The Institute is indebted to Mr Peter Hall Jones through the British Council for providing 
        technical support to conceptualisation, design and development of the Framework.  I applaud the 
        members of the KICD Curriculum Reforms Technical Committee and curriculum developers for 
        their tireless efforts to develop the Framework. 
        I also wish to acknowledge the support of the following organisations for their support during the 
        development of the Framework: 
         1.  Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies 
         2.  Development Partners, including UNICEF and UNESCO  
         3.  Religious organisations, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations 
         4.  The various KICD Subject Panels and the Academic Committee for validation and 
           approval of the Framework 
         5.  Ministry of Education Consultants 
        I also extend my gratitude to the stakeholders who attended the many forums, including the 
        National Conference and discussed the Framework extensively.  
        Last, but not least, I acknowledge the support of Ms Debbie Howard and Mr Peter Douglas of 
        the British Council, for editing and copy editing the Framework respectively. 
         
         
        Dr Julius O. Jwan 
        Director/CEO 
        Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development 
         
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                      Engaged, Empowered & Ethical Citizens