The Critical Thinking Skill Gap in the Kenyan Education Curriculum
The 21st Century Skills for the Global Citizen
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/jise.v9iSI.1860Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Enlargement of Mind, Community of Inquiry, Philosophy for Children and CurriculumAbstract
Across the globe, the learning goals of elementary, secondary, and higher education curricula emphasize the development of the critical thinking approach. In Kenya, the curriculum mentions developing critical thinking as one of its objectives, but a critical review reveals that the education system prioritizes competitive exams and rote memorization over critical thinking and other vital 21st-century skills. In this paper, I argue that educational authorities can achieve this objective if they critically evaluate the purpose of education regularly to ensure that there is an alignment between the stated goals and practice. They also need to make sure that the education they provide leaves no learner behind.
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References
Adler, M. J. (1984). The Paideia program: An educational syllabus. New York: Macmillan.
Anderson, R. C. (1993). Internal structure of children’s arguments. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
Arendt H. (1992). Lectures on Kant’s philosophy. The University of Chicago, USA
Anisa Z. (2018). The importance of teaching critical thinking to students, Pearson, USA
Barber, B. (1984). Strong democracy. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Burbules, N. C. (1995). Reasonable doubt: Toward a postmodern defense of reason as an educational aim. In W. Kohli (Ed.), Critical conversations in philosophy of education. New York: Routledge.
Cam (2014). Philosophy for Children, Values Education and the Inquiring Society, Educational Philosophy and Theory: Incorporating ACCESS, 46(11): 1203-1211.
Center for critical thinking (2004). The role of questions in thinking, teaching and learning; University of Tennessee, USA
Center for critical thinking (2011). Three definitions of critical thinking University of Tennessee, USA
Crockett L. (2016). The 21st century skills and workplace. Central Okanagan, JJamison.
Daniel, M.F. (2001). Philosophical dialogue among peers: A study of manifestations of critical thinking in pre-service teachers. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 6, 49-67.
Daniel, M.-F., Auriac, E. (2011). Philosophy, Critical Thinking and Philosophy for Children, Educational Philosophy and Theory: Incorporating ACCESS, 43(5): 415-435.
Davie, E. (2005). Unchain the child: Abolish compulsory schooling laws. Johannesburg: The Free Market Foundation.
Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education. New York: Free Press. Enslin, P., Pendlebury, S. & Tjiattas, M. (2001). Deliberative democracy, diversity and the challenges of citizenship education. Journal of Philosophy of Education. 35(1), 115-130.
Fisher, R. (2007). Dialogic teaching: developing thinking and metacognition through philosophical discussion. Early childhood development and care. 177(6/7), 295-311.
Ennis, R. H. (1996). Critical thinking dispositions: Their nature and assessability. Informal Logic, 18(2&3), 165-182.
Ennis, R. H. (2008). Nationwide testing of critical thinking for higher education: Vigilance required. Teaching Philosophy, 31(1), 1-26.
Facione, P. A. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. Research findings and recommendations. Millbrae, CA: (The Delphi Report). Prepared for the Committee on Pre-College Philosophy of the American Philosophical Association. ED315423.
Facione, P. A. (2000). The disposition toward critical thinking: Its character, measurement, and relationship to critical thinking skill. Informal Logic, 20(1), 61-84.
Foundation for Critical Thinking. (1999). Critical thinking: Basic theory and instructional structures. Dillon Beach, CA: Author.
Glaser, E. M. (1941). An experiment in the development of critical thinking. Contributions to Education, No. 176, Bureau of Publications. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.
Gregory, M. R. (2002). Constructivism, standards, and the classroom community of inquiry. Educational Theory, 52(4), 397-408.
Hatch, T., & Gardner, H. (1993). Finding cognition in the classroom: an expanded view of human intelligence. In G. Salomon (Ed.), Distributed cognitions: Psychological and educational considerations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ikuenobe, P. (2001). Questioning as an Epistemic Process of Critical Thinking. Journal of Educational Philosophy and Theory, Kent State University
Kant, I. (1996). An answer to the question: What is enlightenment? (1784). In M. Gregor (Ed.), Practical Philosophy (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant, pp. 11-22). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kant, I. (2007). Lectures on Pedagogy. Anthropology, History, and Education. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Kant, I. (2012). Lectures on Pedagogy. Anthropology, History, and Education. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Kanz, H. (1999). Immanuel Kant. Paris: international Bureau of Education.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2017. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2016. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2012. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2009. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Krishnananda, S. (1992). The philosophy of life. New Dheli: The Divine Life Society.
Lipman, M. (2003). Thinking in education (2nd ed). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lipman, M. & Naji, S. (2003). Interview with Matthew Lipman-Part 1: The IAPC program/ part 2: Norwegian Centre for Philosphy with Children and Youth.
Lipman, M. (1991). Thinking in education. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lipman, M. (1988). Critical thinking: What can it be? Educational Leadership, 46(1), 38-43.
McGuinness, C. (1999). From thinking skills to thinking classrooms: A review and evaluation of approaches for developing pupils' thinking (115). Nottingham: Department for Education and Employment.
Nickerson, R., Perkins, D., & Smith, E. (1985). The teaching of thinking. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Norris, S. P., & Ennis, R. H. (1989). Evaluating critical thinking. Pacific Grove, CA: Critical Thinking Press & Software.
Paul, R. W. (1992). Critical thinking: What, why, and how. New Directions for Community Colleges, 20(1), 3-24.
Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2010). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Dillon Beach: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.
Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2008). The Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Dillon Beach: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.
Perkins, D. N. (2001). The social side of thinking. In A. L. Costa (Ed.), Developing minds: A resource book for teaching thinking (3rd ed., pp. 158-163).
Perkins, D. N., Jay, E., & Tishman, S. (1993). Beyond abilities: A dispositional theory of thinking. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 39(1), 1-21.
Rousseau, J.J. (1996a). A discourse on political economy. In G.D.H. Cole (Ed.). Social contract and discourses, p. 247-287. London: Everyman.
Schleifer, M., Daniel, M.F., Lafortune, L. & Pallascio, R. (1999). Concepts of cooperation in the classroom. Paideusis, 12(2), 45-56.
Schleifer, M. (1996). Philosophy and community in education: A critique of Richard Rorty. Analytic teaching, 17(2), 93-100.
Shah, C.G. (2010). Critical Thinking. What it is and why it matters to emerging professionals? Advanced Materials and Processes, 168(5), 66-66.
Sharp, A.M. (1999). The sacred-as relationship in the community of inquiry. In B. Palsson, B. Salomon, G. (1994). Not just the individual: A new conception for a new educational psychology. Paper presented at the Keynote address presented at the 23rd International Congress of Applied Psychology, Madrid, Spain.
Siegel, H. (1999). What (good) are thinking dispositions? Educational Theory, 49(2), 207-221.
Sharp, A.M. (1994). The community of inquiry: Education for democracy. Thinking: The Journal of Philosophy for Children, 9(2), 31-37.
Splitter, L.J. (1997). Philosophy and democracy in Asia and the Pacific: Philosophy and civic education. Thinking: The Journal of Philosophy for Children, 13(3), 6-16.
Republic of Kenya (2012). Task force recommendation report on Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
Republic of Kenya (2013). Task force recommendation report on Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
The P4C Co-operative (2013). http://p4c.com
Trickey, S. (2007). Promoting social and cognitive development in schools: An evaluation of Thinking through Philosophy. In The 13th International Conference on Thinking Norrkoping, Sweden June 17-21, 2007.
Trickey, S., & Topping, K.J. (2004). ‘Philosophy for Children’: A Systematic review. Research Papers in Education, 19(3): 363-378.
Topping, K.J., & Trickey, S. (2014). The role of dialog in philosophy for children, International Journal of Educational Research, 63(2014): 69-78.
UNESCO. (2007). A school of freedom; teaching philosophy and learning to philosophize, Paris, France.
UNESCO. (2009). Teaching philosophy in Africa Anglophone countries, Paris, UNESCO. France
UNESCO. (2013). Global Citizenship Education. An emerging perspective. Outcome document of the Technical Consultation on Global Citizenship Education. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2013). Intercultural Competencies. Conceptual and operational framework. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2014). Global Citizenship Education. Preparing Learners for the Challenges of the 21st Century. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2015). Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action – Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning for All. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2015). Rethinking education; Towards a global common good, Paris, UNESCO.
Van Gelder, T. (2005). Teaching critical thinking: Some lessons from cognitive science. College Teaching, 53(1), 41-48.
Vansieleghem, N. (2006). Listening to dialogue. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 25, 175-190.
Vansieleghem, N. (2005). Philosophy for children as the wind of thinking. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 39(1), 19-35.
Watson, Goodwin & Glatser, Edward M. (2010). Watson-Glaser II Critical Thinking Appraisal®.
Williams, S. (2012). A Brief History of P4C and SAPERE. In Lewis, L. & Chandley, N. (Eds), Philosophy for Children through the Secondary Curriculum. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Williams, S., & Sutcliffe, R. (2013). 5 steps to... Understanding P4C (Training document produced for SAPERE).
Adler, M. J. (1984). The Paideia program: An educational syllabus. New York: Macmillan.
Anderson, R. C. (1993). Internal structure of children’s arguments. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Atlanta, GA.
Arendt H. (1992). Lectures on Kant’s philosophy. The University of Chicago, USA
Anisa Z. (2018). The importance of teaching critical thinking to students, Pearson, USA
Barber, B. (1984). Strong democracy. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Burbules, N. C. (1995). Reasonable doubt: Toward a postmodern defense of reason as an educational aim. In W. Kohli (Ed.), Critical conversations in philosophy of education. New York: Routledge.
Cam (2014). Philosophy for Children, Values Education and the Inquiring Society, Educational Philosophy and Theory: Incorporating ACCESS, 46(11): 1203-1211.
Center for critical thinking (2004). The role of questions in thinking, teaching and learning; University of Tennessee, USA
Center for critical thinking (2011). Three definitions of critical thinking University of Tennessee, USA
Crockett L. (2016). The 21st century skills and workplace. Central Okanagan, JJamison.
Daniel, M.F. (2001). Philosophical dialogue among peers: A study of manifestations of critical thinking in pre-service teachers. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 6, 49-67.
Daniel, M.-F., Auriac, E. (2011). Philosophy, Critical Thinking and Philosophy for Children, Educational Philosophy and Theory: Incorporating ACCESS, 43(5): 415-435.
Davie, E. (2005). Unchain the child: Abolish compulsory schooling laws. Johannesburg: The Free Market Foundation.
Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education. New York: Free Press. Enslin, P., Pendlebury, S. & Tjiattas, M. (2001). Deliberative democracy, diversity and the challenges of citizenship education. Journal of Philosophy of Education. 35(1), 115-130.
Fisher, R. (2007). Dialogic teaching: developing thinking and metacognition through philosophical discussion. Early childhood development and care. 177(6/7), 295-311.
Ennis, R. H. (1996). Critical thinking dispositions: Their nature and assessability. Informal Logic, 18(2&3), 165-182.
Ennis, R. H. (2008). Nationwide testing of critical thinking for higher education: Vigilance required. Teaching Philosophy, 31(1), 1-26.
Facione, P. A. (1990). Critical thinking: A statement of expert consensus for purposes of educational assessment and instruction. Research findings and recommendations. Millbrae, CA: (The Delphi Report). Prepared for the Committee on Pre-College Philosophy of the American Philosophical Association. ED315423.
Facione, P. A. (2000). The disposition toward critical thinking: Its character, measurement, and relationship to critical thinking skill. Informal Logic, 20(1), 61-84.
Foundation for Critical Thinking. (1999). Critical thinking: Basic theory and instructional structures. Dillon Beach, CA: Author.
Glaser, E. M. (1941). An experiment in the development of critical thinking. Contributions to Education, No. 176, Bureau of Publications. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.
Gregory, M. R. (2002). Constructivism, standards, and the classroom community of inquiry. Educational Theory, 52(4), 397-408.
Hatch, T., & Gardner, H. (1993). Finding cognition in the classroom: an expanded view of human intelligence. In G. Salomon (Ed.), Distributed cognitions: Psychological and educational considerations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ikuenobe, P. (2001). Questioning as an Epistemic Process of Critical Thinking. Journal of Educational Philosophy and Theory, Kent State University
Kant, I. (1996). An answer to the question: What is enlightenment? (1784). In M. Gregor (Ed.), Practical Philosophy (The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Immanuel Kant, pp. 11-22). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kant, I. (2007). Lectures on Pedagogy. Anthropology, History, and Education. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Kant, I. (2012). Lectures on Pedagogy. Anthropology, History, and Education. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
Kanz, H. (1999). Immanuel Kant. Paris: international Bureau of Education.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2017. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2016. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2013. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2012. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). 2009. Basic Education Curriculum Framework, Nairobi, Kenya.
Krishnananda, S. (1992). The philosophy of life. New Dheli: The Divine Life Society.
Lipman, M. (2003). Thinking in education (2nd ed). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lipman, M. & Naji, S. (2003). Interview with Matthew Lipman-Part 1: The IAPC program/ part 2: Norwegian Centre for Philosphy with Children and Youth.
Lipman, M. (1991). Thinking in education. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lipman, M. (1988). Critical thinking: What can it be? Educational Leadership, 46(1), 38-43.
McGuinness, C. (1999). From thinking skills to thinking classrooms: A review and evaluation of approaches for developing pupils' thinking (115). Nottingham: Department for Education and Employment.
Nickerson, R., Perkins, D., & Smith, E. (1985). The teaching of thinking. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Norris, S. P., & Ennis, R. H. (1989). Evaluating critical thinking. Pacific Grove, CA: Critical Thinking Press & Software.
Paul, R. W. (1992). Critical thinking: What, why, and how. New Directions for Community Colleges, 20(1), 3-24.
Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2010). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Dillon Beach: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.
Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2008). The Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools. Dillon Beach: Foundation for Critical Thinking Press.
Perkins, D. N. (2001). The social side of thinking. In A. L. Costa (Ed.), Developing minds: A resource book for teaching thinking (3rd ed., pp. 158-163).
Perkins, D. N., Jay, E., & Tishman, S. (1993). Beyond abilities: A dispositional theory of thinking. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 39(1), 1-21.
Rousseau, J.J. (1996a). A discourse on political economy. In G.D.H. Cole (Ed.). Social contract and discourses, p. 247-287. London: Everyman.
Schleifer, M., Daniel, M.F., Lafortune, L. & Pallascio, R. (1999). Concepts of cooperation in the classroom. Paideusis, 12(2), 45-56.
Schleifer, M. (1996). Philosophy and community in education: A critique of Richard Rorty. Analytic teaching, 17(2), 93-100.
Shah, C.G. (2010). Critical Thinking. What it is and why it matters to emerging professionals? Advanced Materials and Processes, 168(5), 66-66.
Sharp, A.M. (1999). The sacred-as relationship in the community of inquiry. In B. Palsson, B. Salomon, G. (1994). Not just the individual: A new conception for a new educational psychology. Paper presented at the Keynote address presented at the 23rd International Congress of Applied Psychology, Madrid, Spain.
Siegel, H. (1999). What (good) are thinking dispositions? Educational Theory, 49(2), 207-221.
Sharp, A.M. (1994). The community of inquiry: Education for democracy. Thinking: The Journal of Philosophy for Children, 9(2), 31-37.
Splitter, L.J. (1997). Philosophy and democracy in Asia and the Pacific: Philosophy and civic education. Thinking: The Journal of Philosophy for Children, 13(3), 6-16.
Republic of Kenya (2012). Task force recommendation report on Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
Republic of Kenya (2013). Task force recommendation report on Education, Nairobi, Kenya.
The P4C Co-operative (2013). http://p4c.com
Trickey, S. (2007). Promoting social and cognitive development in schools: An evaluation of Thinking through Philosophy. In The 13th International Conference on Thinking Norrkoping, Sweden June 17-21, 2007.
Trickey, S., & Topping, K.J. (2004). ‘Philosophy for Children’: A Systematic review. Research Papers in Education, 19(3): 363-378.
Topping, K.J., & Trickey, S. (2014). The role of dialog in philosophy for children, International Journal of Educational Research, 63(2014): 69-78.
UNESCO. (2007). A school of freedom; teaching philosophy and learning to philosophize, Paris, France.
UNESCO. (2009). Teaching philosophy in Africa Anglophone countries, Paris, UNESCO. France
UNESCO. (2013). Global Citizenship Education. An emerging perspective. Outcome document of the Technical Consultation on Global Citizenship Education. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2013). Intercultural Competencies. Conceptual and operational framework. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2014). Global Citizenship Education. Preparing Learners for the Challenges of the 21st Century. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2015). Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action – Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning for All. Paris, UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2015). Rethinking education; Towards a global common good, Paris, UNESCO.
Van Gelder, T. (2005). Teaching critical thinking: Some lessons from cognitive science. College Teaching, 53(1), 41-48.
Vansieleghem, N. (2006). Listening to dialogue. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 25, 175-190.
Vansieleghem, N. (2005). Philosophy for children as the wind of thinking. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 39(1), 19-35.
Watson, Goodwin & Glatser, Edward M. (2010). Watson-Glaser II Critical Thinking Appraisal®.
Williams, S. (2012). A Brief History of P4C and SAPERE. In Lewis, L. & Chandley, N. (Eds), Philosophy for Children through the Secondary Curriculum. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Williams, S., & Sutcliffe, R. (2013). 5 steps to... Understanding P4C (Training document produced for SAPERE).
Additional Files
Published
2020-07-16
Issue
Section
Soka Approaches in Education (Published)
How to Cite
The Critical Thinking Skill Gap in the Kenyan Education Curriculum: The 21st Century Skills for the Global Citizen. (2020). Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 9(SI), 178-191. https://doi.org/10.32674/jise.v9iSI.1860
