The new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will use the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in Grade 9 to determine learners’ academic future based on career-oriented pathways and individual strengths.
In the examination, Grade 9 candidates who pass Mathematics and Science will follow the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway in Senior Secondary School (SSS).
Speaking in Nakuru on Monday, Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang said that the rest of the students will be placed on either the Social Science track or the Arts and Sports track depending on their examination scores.
The three career paths to be pursued in senior school include; Arts and Sports science, Social Sciences, and STEM.
He noted that KJSEA will be calculated as follows; 30 percent from Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) at the end of Grade six, 20 percent from school based assessments in Grades seven and eight, and 60 per cent from Grade nine summative assessments.
“The senior school marks the end of basic education and learners will have explored their potential, interests and personality,” he said.
The PS noted that previously, the first thing people looked at after KCPE was highly performing schools.
“This time students will think about their pathway, after identifying their pathway and where it is available they will think about the schools,” he said.
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The PS indicated that the government would issue further guidelines on the placement early next year as the first Grade 10 class commences in January 2026.
“The curriculum design for Grade 10 is already being worked on ahead of the publishing of education material and laboratory construction,” he added.
The old 8-4-4 curriculum had 8 years of primary, 4 years of secondary, and 4 years of undergraduate university education while CBC has 6 years of primary, 3 years of junior secondary, 3 years of senior secondary, and 4 years of undergraduate university education.
In CBC, students sit for KPSEA at Grade 6 before proceeding to senior secondary school. In Grade 9, KJSEA will determine which senior students proceed to Grade 10.
Further, at Grade 12 the students will sit for a national exam to determine those who will join university.
By Obegi Malack | obegimalack@gmail.com
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