Ministry of Education Releases Circular on CBC Senior School Implementation (Grade 10–12)
The Ministry of Education has issued a new directive detailing how the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will be implemented at Senior School starting January 2026, when the first cohort of CBC learners officially transitions to this stage.
Senior School marks the fourth level of basic education under CBC, following Pre-Primary (PP1 & PP2), Primary School (Grades 1–6), and Junior School (Grades 7–9). This level will cover Grades 10, 11, and 12, catering to learners aged 15–17 years.
CBC Senior School Pathways
Subjects will be offered under three pathways:
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
- Arts and Sports Science
- Social Sciences
The goal is to give learners a pre-university and pre-career experience, allowing them to specialise in areas where they have shown interest, talent, and potential at earlier stages.
Compulsory Senior School Subjects
Each learner will take seven subjects, four of which are compulsory:
- English
- Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (KSL)
- Mathematics – Core Mathematics for STEM learners or Essential Mathematics for others
- Community Service Learning (CSL)
Optional Subjects – Choose Three
Learners must select at least two subjects from their chosen pathway and one from any other pathway if desired.
A. Arts & Sports Science
- Sports and Recreation
- Music and Dance
- Theatre and Film
- Fine Arts
B. Social Sciences
- Literature in English
- Indigenous Languages
- Fasihi ya Kiswahili
- Sign Language
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Mandarin Chinese
- Christian Religious Education (CRE)
- Islamic Religious Education (IRE)
- Hindu Religious Education (HRE)
- Business Studies
- History and Citizenship
- Geography
C. STEM
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- General Science
- Agriculture
- Computer Studies
- Home Science
- Aviation
- Building Construction
- Electricity
- Metalwork
- Power Mechanics
- Woodwork
- Media Technology
- Marine and Fisheries Technology
Additional Learning Areas for All Learners
In addition to examinable subjects, all learners will take:
- Physical Education (PE) – 3 lessons weekly
- ICT Skills – 2 lessons weekly
- Personal/Group Study – 1 lesson weekly
- Pastoral/Religious Programme of Instruction (P/RPI) – 1 lesson weekly
No school is allowed to compel learners to participate in religious practices against their beliefs, in line with the Ministry circular of March 4, 2022.
Weekly Lesson Distribution
Learners will have 40 lessons per week, each lasting 40 minutes:
| Subject | Lessons per Week |
|---|---|
| English | 5 |
| Kiswahili/KSL | 5 |
| Mathematics (Core/Essential) | 5 |
| Community Service Learning (CSL) | 3 |
| Optional Subject 1 | 5 |
| Optional Subject 2 | 5 |
| Optional Subject 3 | 5 |
| Physical Education (PE)* | 3 |
| ICT Skills* | 2 |
| Personal/Group Study* | 1 |
| P/RPI* | 1 |
(*Non-examinable)
Implementation Readiness
The Ministry has directed Quality Assurance and Standards Officers and Senior School Principals to ensure smooth implementation. The Departments of TVET and Higher Education have also been urged to align their programmes ahead of the 2029 entry of CBC graduates into tertiary institutions.
