From Co-Curricular to Core Curricular: Implications of Sports as An Academic and Career Pathway in the New Kenyan Curriculum Reform

Abstract

Sport is a major enhancer of economic and social development of individuals and nations. Many young people have risen to stardom, affluence and influence, as well as contributed to development of their nations through pursuit of sporting careers. Yet in most African countries, the scope of this achievement in sports as a career pathway still remains curtailed by the perception of sports as a co-curricular activity that only complements the regular curriculum in school. However, the new Kenyan curriculum reform as enshrined in Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has re-defined sports to become an academic and career pathway. The purpose of this paper therefore is to examine the implications of this shift of sports from being a co-curricular activity in schools, to becoming a core and integral academic and career pathway. The paper reviews the history and current status of PE in Kenyan curriculum, examines the new curriculum reform, discusses the significance of sports as a career pathway and finally shows the implications of the reform. The methodology used included document analysis and retrospective analysis and synthesis of scientific literature. The paper finds that there is a general attitude of indifference towards sports and PE in schools, it has been given less priority, and most PE and sports departments grapple with inadequate funding and deficiency of essential resources. In order to effectively launch the trajectory of sports as a career pathway in curriculum, the paper recommends the necessity of a societal paradigm shift, government’s preparedness and multi-sectoral partnerships that can create synergies among the relevant stakeholders in Education and Sports. The need for the government to strategically position the Kenya Academy of Sports as an entity to professionalize sport talent development towards realization of the Sports Pathway also advised.