The Kenyan government has announced sweeping reforms to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), significantly reshaping how senior secondary schools will operate. Starting in January 2026, all senior secondary schools will transition to mixed-gender institutions and be predominantly day schools, marking a monumental step forward in education for the country’s youth.
This shift comes as part of the broader CBC overhaul, which aims to enhance access to education, improve learning outcomes, and better cater to students’ individual interests and career aspirations. This change will directly affect the first cohort of CBC students currently in Grade 9, who will be the pioneers of the new system.
The CBC model eliminates traditional school classifications like national, extra-county, county, and sub-county schools. Instead, it introduces three specialized career pathways:
- Arts and Sports Science: Including Performing Arts, Sports, and Visual Arts.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Including Pure Science, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering.
- Humanities, Business Studies, and Language & Literature: Covering a broad spectrum of career-focused studies.
Students will be placed in senior secondary schools based on their performance in two crucial assessments: the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the School-Based Assessment (SBA). The KJSEA, set to take place in November 2025, will account for 60% of the placement decision, while the SBA, which includes practicals, projects, and written assessments from Grade 7 and 8, will contribute 40%.
Unlike the current model, which places students into different school categories based on their academic performance, the new system will also factor in students’ personal interests and strengths. A questionnaire administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will help determine each student’s preferences, talents, and academic inclinations, ensuring they are placed in schools that best match their career goals.
This shift not only supports students’ academic development but also empowers them to take ownership of their learning paths. Placement will also consider the proximity of schools to students’ homes to minimize the burden of long-distance travel.
The first cohort of CBC learners will sit for their final KJSEA in November 2025, and their transition to senior secondary school will occur in January 2026. The Ministry of Education, led by Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos, will release detailed guidelines in March 2025 to ensure a seamless transition and provide clarity on how the placement process will unfold. These guidelines will be vital in helping students, parents, and educators prepare for the changes.