The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has approved 40 subjects that had been offered for proposal for the Grade 10 CBC curriculum.
Grade 10 is the first class of the Senior Secondary School in the new education model, which will only have three grades; Grade 10 – Grade 12. Projections anticipate the first Grade 10 class to be in 2026.
The curriculum entails that there will be a total of 40 subjects that are offerable to students in Grade 10, from which they will only be able to pick 7 of them. Students are required to pick subjects that will align them to their intended future as they are prepared for release into universities.
Of the 7 subjects, 4 will be mandatory; English, Kiswahili, Community Service Learning and Physical Education.
“At this level, learners shall take seven learning areas (LAs) as recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Educational Reforms (PWPER). These shall comprise four compulsory learning areas and three learning areas opted for by the learner according to their chosen pathway,” reads the curriculum in part.
Under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) there will be a total of 17 subjects. STEM subjects will include Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science, Agriculture, Computer Studies, Home Science, Drawing and Design, and Aviation Technology.
Others include Building and Construction, Electrical Technology, Metal Technology, Power Mechanics, Wood Technology, Media Technology and Marine & Fisheries Technology
KICD has also outlined various subjects available under the social science categories. These include Advanced English, Literature in English, Indigenous Language, Kiswahili Kipevu, Sign Language, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Arabic, French, German and Mandarin Chinese.
“While English and Kiswahili are indicated as compulsory, the learners who opt for these learning areas as their subjects of specialization shall go through a differentiated curriculum in terms of scope, experiences and assessment. Such learners shall, therefore, take Advanced English or Kiswahili Kipevu with an additional two lessons.”
Additional subjects in the social sciences category include History and Citizenship, Geography, CRE/IRE/HRE and Business Studies. The last category will be arts and sports science featuring Sports and Recreation, P.E, Music and Dance, Theatre & Film and Fine Arts.
“It is recommended that at least two learning areas should be from the chosen Pathway.”
“In exceptional cases, some learners may opt for one learning area from the chosen Pathway and a maximum of two learning areas from any of the three pathways; depending on the learner’s career projections and with guidance by the principals at Senior School,” the curriculum statement clarified.