Kenya’s education system has undergone significant transformation with the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), replacing the older 8-4-4 system. The CBC follows a 2-6-3-3-3 structure: 2 years of pre-primary, 6 years of primary (split into 3 years of lower primary and 3 years of upper primary), 3 years of junior secondary, 3 years of senior secondary, and 3 years of tertiary education. As learners progress through this system, a key transition occurs when they move from junior secondary (Grade 9) to senior secondary (Grades 10-12). This transition into senior school is a pivotal moment, determining the pathways students will follow based on their interests, abilities, and career aspirations. Here’s how this process is structured under the CBC as of early 2025.
Completion of Junior Secondary (Grades 7-9)
By the end of Grade 9, learners will have completed their junior secondary education, which began in Grade 7. Junior secondary is hosted in institutions that build on the foundation laid in primary school, focusing on a broad curriculum that includes core subjects like English, Kiswahili (or Kenyan Sign Language for deaf learners), Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education, Health Education, and optional subjects such as Agriculture, Business Studies, and Performing Arts. During these three years, students are exposed to a mix of formative assessments (ongoing evaluations by teachers) and school-based assessments administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), with tools downloaded from their website.
The culmination of junior secondary is marked by a national summative assessment at the end of Grade 9. This assessment, overseen by KNEC, evaluates learners’ competencies across the curriculum and serves as a critical determinant for their placement into senior secondary school. Unlike the previous Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) under the 8-4-4 system, which relied heavily on a single high-stakes exam, the CBC assessment integrates continuous evaluation data with the Grade 9 summative test to provide a holistic picture of each learner’s abilities.
Pathways in Senior Secondary School
Senior secondary school, spanning Grades 10 to 12 (ages 15-17), is where learners specialize in one of three distinct pathways under the CBC framework:
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): This pathway targets learners with a strong aptitude for sciences and technical subjects, preparing them for careers in engineering, medicine, technology, and research. It is a priority area, with the government aiming for 60% of learners to pursue STEM to meet national development goals outlined in Kenya Vision 2030.
- Arts and Sports Science: Designed for students inclined toward creative and physical pursuits, this pathway includes visual arts, performing arts, sports, and related disciplines, fostering talents for careers in entertainment, athletics, and design.
- Social Sciences: This pathway caters to learners interested in humanities and social studies, offering subjects like history, geography, business studies, and religious education, leading to careers in law, education, administration, and social services.
Regardless of the pathway chosen, all senior secondary students are required to undertake Community Service Learning and Physical Education, ensuring a well-rounded education that emphasizes practical skills and civic responsibility.
Admission Process to Senior School
The admission of CBC learners into senior secondary school is a multi-step process guided by their performance, preferences, and available infrastructure:
- Assessment Results: The Grade 9 national assessment results play a central role. These scores, combined with classroom and school-based assessments from Grades 7-9, determine a learner’s eligibility for specific pathways. The emphasis in CBC is on competencies—knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes—rather than rote memorization, so the assessment evaluates practical application and critical thinking.
- Learner Preferences: Students, with guidance from teachers and parents, indicate their preferred pathways based on their interests and strengths. During junior secondary, career guidance programs (part of Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education) help learners identify their aptitudes and align them with available options.
- School Capacity and Placement: Placement into senior secondary schools depends on the availability of facilities and qualified teachers for each pathway. Secondary schools across Kenya are being equipped to offer one or more of these pathways, with some designated as specialized institutions (e.g., STEM-focused schools with advanced laboratories). The Ministry of Education uses a centralized system to match learners with schools, considering geographical proximity, infrastructure, and staffing levels.
- Transition Challenges: As of March 2025, the transition to senior secondary is not without hurdles. Reports indicate ongoing efforts to construct classrooms (only 3,500 of 11,000 targeted classrooms were completed by late 2024) and address teacher shortages, particularly in science subjects. The government has committed to retooling existing teachers and hiring more on permanent terms to bridge these gaps, but capacity remains a limiting factor in some regions.
How the Placement Process Works
- School Selection: Learners will submit their choices based on their interests and assessment results.
- Automated Placement System: The Ministry of Education will use a computerized system to allocate students to schools that align with their chosen pathways.
- Admission Notification: Placement letters will be accessible online, allowing parents and learners to check where they have been admitted.
- Equity and Fairness: The system is designed to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds get equal opportunities to join senior schools of their choice.
What Parents and Learners Need to Know
- Learners should explore their interests early and identify their preferred career paths.
- Parents should guide and support their children in making informed decisions about their senior school choices.
- Schools will play an essential role in advising students based on their strengths and performance in junior secondary.
- The government aims for a smooth transition, ensuring learners are placed in institutions that will help them develop their full potential.
Subjects in Senior Secondary
Once admitted, learners pursue a tailored curriculum within their chosen pathway. Core subjects vary by pathway but typically include:
- STEM: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science.
- Arts and Sports Science: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Sports, Music.
- Social Sciences: History, Geography, Business Studies, Religious Education.
Students also select one or two optional subjects (e.g., foreign languages like French or Mandarin, Home Science, or Indigenous Languages) based on their interests and career goals. This flexibility ensures that education is personalized, aligning with the CBC’s goal of nurturing individual potential.
Government and Stakeholder Roles
The Ministry of Education, led by Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba as of early 2025, is spearheading this transition. Efforts include:
- Infrastructure development to accommodate Grade 9 learners (who started junior secondary in 2023 and are set to enter senior secondary in 2026).
- Teacher training to align with CBC requirements.
- Public sensitization to clarify the process for parents and communities.
Stakeholders like the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association have advocated for Grade 9 to be hosted in secondary schools, citing their readiness with facilities and trained staff, a proposal that could influence future adjustments.
Conclusion
The admission of CBC learners into senior secondary school marks a shift toward a competency-driven, student-centered education system in Kenya. By leveraging assessments, learner preferences, and strategic placement, the process aims to prepare students for diverse career paths while addressing national development needs. However, its success hinges on resolving infrastructural and staffing challenges, ensuring that every learner can access their chosen pathway by 2026, when the first full CBC cohort reaches senior school.