Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang has revealed how learners under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) will be placed in senior schools.

Kipsang said the government will use the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA)  in grade 9 to determine learners’ academic future based on their strengths.

He explained that the three paths to be pursued in Senior Schools include Arts and Sports science, Social Sciences and Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Learners who excel in Mathematics and Science will follow the STEM pathway in Senior Secondary Schools while the rest will be placed on either the Social Science track or the Arts and Sports track depending on their examination performance.

“The Senior Schools marks the end of basic education and learners will have explored their potential, interests, and personality,” Kipsang said.

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The learner’s score will be calculated based on performance in all the assessments done in grades 6 to 9.

According to Kipsang, 30 percent will be drawn from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment(KPSEA) at the end of Grade Six, 20 percent from school-based assessments in Grades Seven and Eight, and 50 percent from Grade Nine summative assessments.

Unlike the now phased-out 8-4-4 system, where secondary schools were categorised as national, extra-county, county, and sub-county, depending on their performance, the new three-tiered system aligned with the rollout of CBC will see the institutions identified based on the subjects offered.

This includes; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centres, Humanities and Arts Schools, and Creative Arts and Sports Schools.

Kipsang noted that unlike previously where learners would think of high-performing schools after KCPE, learners will now be looking for schools based on their pathways.

“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.

He added that the government would issue further guidelines on the placement early next year as the first Grade 10 class commences in 2026.

“The curriculum design for Grade 10 is being worked on ahead of the publishing of education material and laboratory construction,” he said.