Ninth-grade students in Kenya have commenced the selection of their senior school pathways under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has been rebranded as Competency-Based Education (CBE). This development signifies a pivotal moment in the ongoing educational reforms within the country, impacting over one million learners.
Each student is required to select three subject combinations and four schools for each pathway utilizing a newly implemented automated platform—selection.education.go.ke—introduced by the Ministry of Education. The selection process is scheduled to take place from June 9 to June 30, as articulated by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok. Students will receive guidance from their teachers in identifying a total of 12 schools based on their individual preferences, academic performance, and the capacity of the institutions.
Bitok emphasized that preparations are underway for the transition of Grade 10 in 2026, which includes the selection of pathways, subject combinations, and senior schools. He further explained that each school is required to publish its subject offerings and declare its available capacity, with Sub-County Directors tasked with reviewing these combinations to ensure quality and balance in demand.
Students with special needs are permitted to select fewer schools that provide appropriate support services. Bitok noted that all field officers are expected to facilitate this process.
The CBE framework encompasses three career pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science. Some senior schools have been designated as Triple Pathway Schools, offering all three pathways, while others are classified as Dual Pathway Schools, providing two options.
The placement process will take into account the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), which will account for 60 percent of the evaluation, alongside School-Based Assessments (SBAs) from Grades Seven and Eight, each contributing 20 percent. The cumulative score will determine student placements in senior schools, aligning academic performance with student preferences.
The government has conducted a mapping of schools to assess their capacity to accommodate learners based on declared abilities and available infrastructure. In support of this transition, over 9,000 senior school principals have received training from the Teachers Service Commission to assist students in navigating the new system.
Willie Kuria, chairman of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, affirmed that schools are prepared to welcome new students. He remarked that senior school represents a pre-career phase, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that each learner is placed in an environment conducive to nurturing their interests, talents, and academic potential.
Kuria further noted that this initiative transcends mere academic placement, marking the onset of a transition that will guide these young learners into Grade 10 in 2026, informed not only by academic performance but also by their interests, talents, and aspirations.
Four core subjects—Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, and Community Service Learning—remain mandatory across all pathways. Bitok stated, “Whether a child aspires to be a robotics engineer, a historian, or a football star, there is an opportunity for that dream here. This process ensures that every learner finds a space where their potential can flourish.”
Nonetheless, concerns persist among parents regarding transparency and the readiness of schools to implement these changes.
