Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) has unlocked new academic horizons for Grade 10 students entering senior school, particularly through the Social Sciences pathway.
This pathway empowers learners to choose from 125 subject combinations, providing them with the flexibility to align their education with their personal strengths, career goals, and national relevance.
The subject combinations are offered across two key tracks: Humanities and Business Studies, and Languages and Literature. Students may choose to study subjects such as Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, History & Citizenship, Literature in English, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, and even Indigenous or Sign Languages. These carefully designed combinations foster critical thinking, social awareness, and communication skills essential for 21st-century leadership.
The table below comprises all the subject combinations available under the Social Sciences pathway, categorised by track.
| Humanities & Business Studies | Languages & Literature |
| Christian Religious Education, Geography, History & Citizenship | Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, French | Arabic, French, Literature in English |
| Business Studies, Geography, Literature in English | German, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Business Studies, German, History & Citizenship | Computer Studies, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Indigenous Language |
| Business Studies, Geography, Kenya Sign Language | Arabic, French, Kenya Sign Language |
| Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, Mandarine Chinese | Advanced Mathematics, French, Mandarine Chinese |
| Geography, History & Citizenship, Islamic Religious Education | Arabic, Christian Religious Education, French |
| Business Studies, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Islamic Religious Education | Fasihi ya Kiswahili, General Science, Kenya Sign Language |
| Advanced Mathematics, Geography, Hindu Religious Education | Arabic, Indigenous Language, Kenya Sign Language |
| Geography, German, Hindu Religious Education | Christian Religious Education, French, Mandarine Chinese |
| Business Studies, History & Citizenship, Mandarine Chinese | French, Hindu Religious Education, Mandarine Chinese |
| Christian Religious Education, General Science, History & Citizenship | Arabic, Business Studies, Kenya Sign Language |
| Business Studies, Geography, History & Citizenship | French, History & Citizenship, Islamic Religious Education |
| Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, Geography | Fasihi ya Kiswahili, History & Citizenship, Kenya Sign Language |
| Business Studies, Geography, Indigenous Language | Arabic, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language |
| Geography, History & Citizenship, Literature in English | Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Literature in English, Mandarine Chinese |
| Business Studies, German, Hindu Religious Education | Indigenous Language, Literature in English, Mandarine Chinese |
| Business Studies, Hindu Religious Education, Literature in English | Advanced Mathematics, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Christian Religious Education, Computer Studies, History & Citizenship | French, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Christian Religious Education, Geography, Literature in English | Arabic, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Business Studies, Hindu Religious Education, History & Citizenship | Computer Studies, French, German |
| Geography, Islamic Religious Education, Mandarine Chinese | Christian Religious Education, French, German |
| History & Citizenship, Islamic Religious Education, Literature in English | Business Studies, Indigenous Language, Literature in English |
| Advanced Mathematics, Christian Religious Education, History & Citizenship | French, General Science, Mandarine Chinese |
| Christian Religious Education, German, History & Citizenship | Arabic, French, Mandarine Chinese |
| Arabic, Geography, History & Citizenship | Arabic, General Science, Kenya Sign Language |
| Arabic, Business Studies, History & Citizenship | Christian Religious Education, French, Mandarine Chinese |
| Christian Religious Education, French, Geography | Arabic, French, History & Citizenship |
| Business Studies, Christian Religious Education, Geography | Arabic, Business Studies, French |
| Christian Religious Education, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Geography | Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Hindu Religious Education, Kenya Sign Language |
The ability for Grade 10 learners to choose from such a broad range of subject combinations marks a milestone in educational reform. It shifts the focus from rigid academic streams to learner-centred pathways that emphasise voice, choice, and versatility.
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With the Social Sciences pathway, students not only gain knowledge, but they also select paths that reflect who they are and the change they wish to create. Kenya’s CBC is building a generation that thinks critically, communicates effectively, and contributes meaningfully to society.
By Joseph Mambili
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