Senior Schools successfully enroll grade 10 cohort under CBE

Parents and learners during the admission of the grade 10 cohort at Nanyuki High School in Laikipia/ ALICE WAITHERA

Senior schools across the country have successfully admitted their first cohort of Grade 10 learners, marking a major milestone in the rollout of Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum and the beginning of senior school under the new system.

The transition, which had initially raised concerns over infrastructure, staffing and overall preparedness, was largely smooth, with most institutions reporting orderly admissions and minimal disruptions.

Parents, learners and education stakeholders expressed optimism as senior school officially took shape under the new curriculum framework.

Under CBE, Grade 10 learners begin specialising in either Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences or Arts and Sports.

The pathways are designed to align education with learners’ abilities, interests and talents, enabling students to start shaping their career paths at an earlier stage.

In Kajiado county, Merishaw School recorded a high turnout of parents during the enrolment exercise, with the process described as efficient and well coordinated.

Deputy Principal Paul Mwanza said the smooth transition showed that schools had applied lessons learned from earlier phases of CBC implementation.

“Compared to the initial rollout of CBC, this phase was more organised. Parents came informed, learners understood what was expected of them, and the admission process flowed without major challenges,” Mwanza said.

Parents welcomed the learner-centred approach of the new curriculum, noting that it departs from the one-size-fits-all model of the former 8-4-4 system.

Ann Chabs, a parent at the school, said the system was finally recognising individual talents.

“For the first time, my child is being guided based on what she is good at, not just exam grades. That gives us confidence in the direction the system is taking,” she said.

A similar trend was witnessed in Laikipia county, where the first batch of Grade 10 learners began reporting to Nanyuki High School at the start of the week.

About 200 students had been admitted by Monday, with the school expecting a total of 700 learners by the close of the exercise.

Deputy Principal Gitonga King’ori said the majority of learners had opted for the STEM pathway. However, the school had established a career guidance desk to help students make informed decisions.

“We realised some learners may have chosen pathways without adequate information or due to pressure from peers or parents. The career desk will guide them based on their performance in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) and their personal interests,” King’ori said.

Nanyuki High School offers all three pathways. The STEM pathway comprises pure and applied sciences as well as technical studies, including newly introduced subjects such as metalwork.

The social sciences pathway offers six subjects, while the arts and sports pathway includes fine arts, music, dance and several foreign languages.

Education stakeholders said the emphasis on practical learning and skills acquisition under CBE positions learners better for a changing job market that increasingly values creativity, innovation and problem-solving.

Teachers involved in the transition acknowledged that while challenges such as infrastructure and staffing remain, the benefits were already evident.

Nationally, education experts view the successful enrolment of the pioneer Grade 10 cohort as a critical test for the long-term success of the CBE curriculum.

The smooth admissions have boosted confidence among stakeholders who had expressed fears over readiness.

As learners settle into senior school, stakeholders expressed optimism that continued investment in facilities, teacher training and policy support will strengthen the system and ensure that CBE delivers on its promise of equipping Kenyan learners with skills for life beyond the classroom.