The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has been forced to go back to the drawing board and develop mathematics textbooks for learners not pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in Senior School.
The new version of the subject will be referred to as Essential Mathematics and will be offered to learners pursuing Social Sciences, Arts, and Sports pathways.
The decision follows public uproar after an earlier announcement that Mathematics would be optional in senor school, which prompted the government to take a U-turn, making mathematics compulsory to all learners in senior school.
While talking to one of the local dailies, KICD Director Prof. Charles Ong’ondo confirmed that they had already developed a curriculum for the particular subject that they thought was suitable for students opting for STEM pathways, when the announcement of making Maths optional.
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However after the announcement was overturned, it has prompted institute to go back to develop essential maths curriculum that will sort the learner not in the STEM pathways.
Prof Ong’ondo added that KICD has already released curriculum support materials, including for mathematics under stem option.
“That which is essential to other learners who are not doing Stem- so the mathematics which was already developed will be pursued by stem students in senior schools, (while) Essential Mathematics will be pursued by Non- Stem students,” He clarified.
The Director also said that KICD will follow the relevant process to incorporate Essential mathematics into Senior School before learners’ transition in 2026.
“The Curriculum design for essential mathematics have already been drafted and will be edited next week. Thereafter, it will undergo additional process, including presentation to stakeholders through a forum known as the cross- panel. The academic committee at KICD will then review it for approval before it is submitted to the council,” Prof said.
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He added that all these process are expected to be completed by June 2025, thereafter publisher will be invited to submit the books for Essential Mathematics, evaluation to be in August 2025 in order to clear way for distribution alongside other subjects for learners in Grade 10.
He assured Kenyans that institute has completed the curriculum design and will ensure that books are available for non- Stem students.
“However it must be understood that even students in these pathways who decide that they will do the mathematics undertaken by Stem students have the freedom to do so,” he said.
By Brian Ndigo
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