Ideally, my 22nd treatise on Competency-Education (CBE) focuses on Curriculum Organisation in Senior School: Subject-Selection and Career Prospects. We are focusing on the impressive implementation of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Senior School in 2026, onwards. After poring over important writs churned out by mandarins at the Ministry of Education, I therefore, abut this cogent argument on three policy documents: (1) Basic Education Curriculum Framework (2017), (2), Guidelines on Selection and Placement of Learners to Senior School (2025), and (3) Guidelines for Implementation of Senior School Education (2025).
Foremost, Senior School education will take a span of 3 years of learning. This will be Grade 10, 11 and 12. It will be for learners aged 15 to 17. It is the last level of Basic Education as spelt in the Basic Education Act, 2013. So, Senior School will lay a firm foundation for the world of work and further education, and training at the tertiary level. Senior School will serve as the pre-career stage, in which learners are offered the core and elective subjects.
Curriculum for Regular Learners
Just to apprise you. Curriculum in Senior School is organised into 3 Career Pathways namely: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences and Arts and Sports Science. A typical Senior School will offer a minimum of 2 Career Pathways based on requisite resources and availability of basic infrastructure. The essence of Senior School will be to offer learners a pre-tertiary or pre-university or pre-career experience. For at that lofty level of learning, learners will have the opportunity to select subjects from pathways where they shall have demonstrated intense interest or potential at the earlier levels of learning.
Subjects Available in Senior School
Dear reader, in Senior Schools, the Career Pathways cascade to Tracks, then, subjects. For instance, the STEM Career Pathway has 3 Tracks: Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences and Technical Studies. Subjects in the Pure Sciences Track include: Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. Subjects in Applied Sciences Track include: Computer Science, Home Science and Agriculture. Then, subjects in Technical Studies Track include: Aviation, Building Construction, Electricity, Metal Work, Power Mechanics, Woodwork, Media Technology and Marine and Fisheries Technology.
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STEM Pathway will cater for 60% of CBE learners at Senior School. The STEM Career Pathway is to equip learners with requisite knowledge, skills and competencies — they require to excel in scientific and technical disciplines. After Senior School, the Career Pathway of STEM will allow CBE learners to join institutions of higher learning and explore oodles of opportunities in engineering, information technology, computer science, medicine, health sciences, environmental science and sustainability, data science and analytics, research and development in various scientific disciplines.
Then, the Social Sciences Career Pathway has 2 Tracks: Languages and Literature, and Humanities and Business Studies. Learning Areas or subjects in Languages and Literature Track include: Literature in English, Indigenous Languages, Kenya Sign Language (KSL), Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Arabic, French, German, Mandarin (Chinese). Subjects in Humanities and Business Studies Track include: Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE), Hindu Religious Education (HRE), Business Studies, History and Citizenship, Geography and Community Service Learning (CSL).
Social Sciences Pathway should take care of 25% of CBE learners in Senior School. This is the Career Pathway that should assist learners to understand society, human behaviour and global systems. This Career Pathway aligns learners for oodles of career opportunities in law, education, public administration, international relations, diplomacy, global issues, economics, social work, community development, counselling, social services, et cetera.
Moreover, Arts and Sports Science Career Pathway has 2 Tracks: Arts and Sports Science. Subjects in the Arts Track include: Music and Dance and Theatre and Film and Fine Art. Subjects in the Sports Science Track include: Physical Education (PE) and Sports and Recreation. Architects of CBE envision that this Career Pathway is to take care of 15% of learners in Senior School. It is to nurture their talents, creativity and physical abilities.
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Learners that opt for Arts and Sports Science in Senior Schools, later can proceed to universities, colleges and conservatories; specialising in arts, music, dance, sports or related fields. Largely, this Career Pathway exposes learners to oodles of opportunities in the world of entertainment such as acting (being a thespian), music production, dance performance, choreography and media production. Career opportunities in the Arts Track include: fine arts, graphic designs, fashion design, animation, film and media production, theatre, music performance and arts management. The Sports Track exposes learners to: professional sports, sports coaching, teaching Physical Education (PE), sports management, fitness training and sports medicine.
Subject Selection in Senior Schools
Actually, in Senior Schools, learners will take 7 subjects; comprising 4 core-subjects. They include: English, Kiswahili, Core Mathematics or Essential Mathematics and Community Service Learning (CSL). For clarity purposes, all learners shall take English, Kiswahili and Community Service Learning (CSL). Learners pursuing the STEM Career Pathway shall take the Core-Mathematics. Whereas those pursuing either Social Sciences and Arts and Sports Science Career Pathways shall take Essential Mathematics. Albeit, it is instructive to note: A learner in a non-STEM Career Pathway may be permitted to do the Core-Mathematics so long as their Junior School assessment results depict adequate preparation.
Additionally, to the core learning areas, the learner will select 3 more subjects. Advisedly, the learner should take at least 2 subjects from the chosen Career Pathway. Meaning, a learner may take up to 3 more subjects from the chosen Career Pathway. Or take 2 subjects from the chosen Career Pathway and 1 subject from another Career Pathway.
However, it should be anticipated that a situation may arise where the career choices of learners requires that they take 1 subject each Career Pathway. Of course, such a situation should be permitted. Finally, the choice of subjects will be based on learners’ abilities, aptitude, career choice, interests and personalities. This is should be anchored on good guidance and advice by the leadership of the Senior Schools. It is also important to the robust support of Career Counsellors, Educators and Specialists.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ is an educator (academic and career) consultant. He rolls out talks and training services in schools. He assists schools to write new, or review existing Strategic Plans. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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