The Ministry of Education, (MoE) has kicked off a countrywide awareness campaign to assist Grade 9 learners, their parents, and teachers in navigating the crucial process of selecting career pathways, ahead of the 2026 transition to Senior Secondary School (Grade 10).
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has instructed all junior secondary school principals to activate career departments and ensure that parents and guardians are well-informed about the selection process.
Learners will have to choose among three pathways under the Competency-Based Curriculum: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science.
“To support the effective rollout of the process, schools across the country have been directed to sensitize parents, guardians and candidates regarding the selection process,” Ogamba said in a statement issued on Saturday, May 31.
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“We want our learners to make informed decisions based on their talents and career interests.” He added
This directive comes in response to growing public unease about the preparedness of the government’s transition plan, with many fearing a looming “crisis” due to the delay in releasing detailed implementation guidelines.
One pressing concern is the severe shortage of science teachers, particularly in physics, where vacancies persist despite ongoing recruitment efforts. Teachers have also raised concerns about their capacity to handle the demands of the new curriculum.
“How many teachers are ready to teach Grade 10 learners? Who will teach subjects such as health education?” questioned education consultant John Waswa.
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A significant number of teachers currently working in junior secondary schools reportedly lack the subject-specific qualifications needed, raising doubts about the overall quality of education that will be delivered.
Parents, too, have expressed frustration over what they see as inadequate government communication on the matter.
“We are asked to guide students in the process of selecting their pathways, something most parents don’t even understand. Unless parents are informed, it is effort in futility,” said National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa.
Obuhatsa further criticized the government’s handling of the Competency-Based Education rollout, saying that nearly a decade since its introduction, major uncertainties still remain.
“Are we using our children to weigh whether the curriculum is going to work, or what is the government up to?” he said.
By Cornelius Korir
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