The Ministry of Education, (MoE) has launched an online platform designed to help Grade 9 learners on the transition to senior school and career pathways choices, aligning their educational journey with their career aspirations under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
The platform, developed to support learners, parents, and teachers, now provides detailed information on subject combinations required to qualify for more than 350 different careers.
This marks a significant shift from the previous system, where school selection was based primarily on performance in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and not career intentions.
For the first time under the rebranded CBE (formerly Competency-Based Curriculum – CBC), the current Grade 9 learners will choose their preferred career pathways and schools for Grade 10, which marks the start of senior school.
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The online portal enables all 1.2 million Grade 9 learners to select from 9,569 senior schools listed on the platform. These schools are now categorized into four clusters—C1 to C4—replacing the old national, extra-county, county, and sub-county classifications.
“This system is tailored for the CBC framework and focuses on talent, interest and ability, helping students transition smoothly into senior school (Grades 10 to 12),” reads a description on the portal.
Through this platform, the entire school and career pathway selection process will be conducted digitally. It maps each career to a specific pathway and guides learners on the subject clusters they must pursue.
For instance, a learner aiming to become a data analyst should choose the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pathway, follow the pure sciences track, and include computer studies in their subject selection. Computer studies alone is linked to 20 different career options.
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The placement process will be automated and based on several factors including academic performance, alignment with the chosen pathway, school capacity, and geographical considerations. The shift is expected to generate stiff competition for places in C1 and C2 schools, which generally offer superior facilities and staffing.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government will utilize the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to place the Grade 9 learners into senior schools.
“We will use a new system to ensure that we have a 100 per cent transition from junior school to senior school. We are expecting 1.2 million children to move from JS to SS, and everything is in place to ensure all children secure placements,” said Prof Bitok.
The PS explained that the automated selection system has already been developed and tested, with piloting scheduled to conclude on June 6. Selection of pathways and subject combinations by learners and schools will occur between June 9 and June 30.
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Heads of senior schools will access the system to indicate the pathways and subjects they will offer. Junior school heads will support learners and parents in making their selections. Sub-county and county directors of education will oversee and approve these selections, while the head of senior school education will monitor the process nationally.
Prof Bitok emphasised the system’s broader role in tracking learners and educational resources across all levels of schooling.
“According to the MoE, KEMIS is designed to track the performance and movement of learners and teaching staff from early childhood development education through to institutions of higher learning, aiming to ensure maximum efficiency and effective use of education resources.” He emphasized
Grade 9 learners are currently working on their Creative Arts and Sports projects and will sit for the inaugural Kenya Junior Schools Education Assessment between October 28 and November 3. Once these results are released, the automated placement process will begin, with final placements communicated to learners and schools.
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“The process ensures students are placed in schools that best match their abilities and interests within the CBC framework,” reads an explainer on the website.
The Education Ministry has confirmed that all necessary systems are in place to ensure a seamless and fair transition for all learners entering senior school in January next year.
By Cornelius Korir
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