Geography and Business Studies have emerged as the most preferred subjects among the grade nine learners selecting subjects and career pathways ready for the senior school transition.
This popularity highlights a potential trend in student interests under the new curriculum. Conversely, subjects traditionally associated with technical skills, such as electricity, woodwork, and metalwork, have attracted the least number of students so far. This initial feedback will be crucial for the Ministry of Education as they continue to refine the implementation of the new system.
Speaking at the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, (KESSHA) summit in Mombasa, Dr. William Sugut, head of the Directorate of Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, revealed as he outlined the new selection process.
“Tell the learners to start with the pathway, followed by the combination. Schools that offer the combinations will pop up. They can then make selection from there,” he stated, emphasizing that the system prioritizes the educational path over the prestige of a particular school.
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The new system introduces three main pathways for senior school: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; and Arts and Sports. While national schools will offer all three pathways due to their capacity and infrastructure, other learning institutions may specialize in certain combinations. Dr. Sugut urged principals to consider these pathways when creating their timetables.
He also advised them to guide students on the choices available: “Some learners may be good in every subject, but allow them to choose. Advise them on the choices to be made,” Dr. Sugut said.
A major concern highlighted by Dr. Sugut is the shortage of laboratories for practical subjects. “They need 1,609 laboratories and we are working on addressing the challenge,” Dr Sugut revealed. Schools were given two days to revise their subject combinations in consultation with sub-county education chiefs, with a portal set to close soon for junior schools to capture their data. So far, 9,606 senior schools have already selected their subject combinations.
The Ministry has been sensitizing education players on helping Grade nine learners select career pathways, an exercise that lasted a month. Student placement in senior school will be based on a learner’s choice in terms of pathways, tracks, subject combinations, and academic merit. Academic performance will be cumulative, taking into account assessments from Grades six, seven, and eight, with both formative and summative assessments counting.
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Dr. Sugut stressed the importance of considering every learner’s talents. “If we are not careful, we will be back to where we have always been. Kenyans will demand to be told why we initiated the change,” he cautioned, underscoring the need for a successful transition. He also urged heads to familiarize themselves with curriculum designs for Grades 10, 11, and 12.
The subject combinations have been approved by sub county education directors in consultation with quality assurance officers, ensuring a standardized approach to the new curriculum. Dr. Sugut also clarified a key point about school selection: “We are not choosing the school but combinations. Some people want to start from the school but that is not possible,” he said, reinforcing the pathway first approach.
By Benedict Aoya
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