Dr Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, has confirmed that all Grade 10 students will study Science and Mathematics as part of the curriculum reforms suggested by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
The PS said that Grade 10, marking the beginning of Senior School, will offer students the option to choose between different career pathways, including Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
“Every school will be required to offer two pathways, with the STEM pathway being mandatory for all schools. This is why we are building laboratories to ensure that each senior school can support at least two pathways, optimising the resources already available in schools,” said Dr Kipsang.
He added that resources have been mobilised to equip 1,600 schools with labs to facilitate the science pathway and that consultations will be held across counties to gather input from the public as they progress toward senior school.
The other two pathways offered are Arts and Sports Science and Social Sciences. Dr Kipsang made these remarks during the launch of countrywide forums on implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) on March 7 in Machakos Town.
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At the same time, teachers’ unions such as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have called for the retraining of educators before the first batch of students transitions to Grade 10.
Despite this, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) expressed confidence that learners were prepared for the change.
However, there are ongoing concerns regarding implementing CBC, especially in junior schools. Critics argue that delays in the induction of teachers for later stages of the curriculum could hinder students’ ability to select career pathways by Grade 9.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu asked stakeholders to apply lessons learned from implementing the CBC from Grade 1 to Grade 9 as they move forward.
KUPPET’s Paul Ngei emphasized that retooling secondary school teachers should have started earlier, as they are eager to understand the direction the curriculum is heading.
Education expert Stephen Mudho pointed out that teachers should be exposed to the CBC before formal training.
At the same time, Boaz Waruku from the Elimu Bora Working Group called for investments in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and improved working conditions to prepare for the Grade 10 transition.
The forums, which will run for a week, come two months after the rollout of Grade 9, which faced challenges like inadequate classrooms and teachers.
Ogamba assured that the government would incorporate feedback from the forums to ensure a smooth transition to Grade 10 and beyond. He also urged schools to remain patient as the remaining capitation funds are being disbursed.
By Joseph Mambili
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