Life. Seasoned with perspective.
CBC holiday projects may feel like punishment for parents, but hidden in the chaos are lessons, laughter, and surprising bonds with our kids
Dear Parent, now that your little one is finally back in school, let’s talk about the CBC holiday assignments and projects.
I know you’re still healing. Ha ha!
The Competency-Based Curriculum, or CBC, is—at least in my view—one of the best things to happen to our education system. Sure, it has its challenges, but most of those are systemic. Politics and poor management aside, let’s focus on the good.
Since CBC came into being, the parent–child relationship has had to evolve. Some parents complain. Others embrace it. Personally, I think it is quietly mending some gaps.
Take this past holiday. My three kids came home with three very different sets of assignments. If you’re a parent of one, you know the pain. If you’re a parent of three like me—multiply that by three, then sprinkle some chaos on top.
So what was I up to?
Let me start with Nailantei. She had to make an electric circuit. Sounds simple, right? I thought so too, which is why I left it until the last week of the holiday. Big mistake. I bought the dry cells, wires, a switch—figuring the bulb would be the easiest part. Turns out, those torch bulbs I grew up knowing have vanished. In their place are LEDs and solar bulbs that felt like alien technology.
At one point, I was dismantling a torch, begging our estate carpenter for a wooden board, and finally consulting Tom, our estate electrician. He calmly told me my bulb was twelve volts and I needed more dry cells. With eight cells connected, the circuit finally lit up. The moment my daughter’s face broke into a smile, all the frustration, receipts, and muttered curses melted away. Worth it.
Now to Naini. Her project took me straight down memory lane. We had to make a nylon-paper football, the good old irifundo.
As I folded the papers, I remembered playing with my childhood friends Majanga and Aginga until the soles of our feet turned red with dust. Nostalgia hit hard. When the ball was ready, Naini and Nia kicked it around the house so much I feared it would never make it to school. Somehow it did.
We also tackled a toy car made from plastics, dried fruit seeds, and even experimented with tie and dye. In past holidays, we’ve made scarecrows, tried potato printing, and plenty of other creative projects. That’s CBC in action.
Here’s the thing: these skills are not a waste of time. Before Covid-19, I used to call an electrician almost monthly to change my shower element. Each visit cost me Kes750–1000. When the pandemic hit and no one could come over, I turned to YouTube. The solution was laughably simple. A shower element costs only 200 shillings. With the same 1000 shillings I used to spend on Tom, I was suddenly covered for half a year. Since then, I’ve never called him again.
CBC is teaching children exactly this kind of problem-solving. They learn to be creative. They learn to improvise. And parents are learning too—whether we admit it or not. Nailantei’s circuit project even got me thinking about how to light up my small farm without paying an arm and a leg.
But perhaps the biggest gift isn’t the skills. It’s the bonding. These projects pull us into our children’s world. They force us to be patient, creative, and sometimes to eat humble pie.
As my kids marched back to school, I honestly couldn’t tell who needed the bigger break—them or me. But one thing is clear: CBC is turning us into more than just parents. We are co-learners, reluctant project managers, and sometimes, unwilling artisans.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the whole point.
So yes, dear parent—heal well. At least until the next holiday project arrives.
About the author:
Kibisu Mulanda is a media executive and strategic communicator with over 20 years of experience in television, NGO storytelling, and youth-focused content. He is the Acting Head of Switch Media Ltd and teaches media at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC). A Certified SIYB Trainer, he blends storytelling with strategy to drive social impact.
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