In 2001, the 8-4-4 system of education was reviewed after educational experts raised concerns that primary children were facing too many mandatory subjects.
At the time, children in primary schools were doing seven subjects that resulted in a total possible mark of 700 in the KCPE national exams. These subjects were reduced to five, with the dropping of Art and Craft and Home Science.
With the introduction of the Competency Based Curriculum that was initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and which is now being implemented by his former deputy turned president William Ruto, children in class seven and eight which have been renamed as grade 7 and 8 will face over twice the number of subjects upper primary children have been studying.
These children will also face almost twice the seven subjects that children studied prior to the 2001 review.
Grade 7 mandatory subjects are:
1). English
2). Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language
3). Mathematics
4). Integrated Science
5). Health Education
6). Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education
7). Social Studies
8). Religious Education
- Business Studies
10). Agriculture
11). Life Skills
12). Sports and Physical Education
The optional subjects are as follows:
Children should do a minimum of one and maximum of two optional subjects which include:
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13). Visual Arts
14). Performing Arts
15). Home Science
16). Computer Science
17). Foreign Languages (German, French, Mandarin, or Arabic)
18). Kenyan Sign Language
19). Indigenous Languages
