On a bustling morning in Nairobi’s Kawangware suburb, 15-year-old Mercy Wanjiku steps into her new senior secondary school, clutching her placement letter and adjusting her uniform. She is among over 1.13 million pioneer learners transitioning to Grade 10 today under Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), marking the full implementation of the country’s most significant education reform in decades.
Kenya now operates the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) under a 2-6-3-3-3 structure. This system comprises two years of pre-primary, six years of primary (Grades 1-6), three years of junior secondary (Grades 7-9), three years of senior secondary (Grades 10-12), and at least three years of tertiary education or vocational training.
Replacing the old 8-4-4 model
The CBC, rolled out progressively from 2019, replaces the old 8-4-4 system introduced in 1985, which emphasised rote learning and high-stakes national examinations. Critics long argued that 8-4-4 produced graduates strong in theory but often lacking practical skills for employment.
CBC prioritises competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy and lifelong learning over memorisation. It features continuous assessment, with school-based evaluations contributing significantly alongside national tests, easing the pressure of single-exam outcomes.
Senior secondary pathways and specialisation
The senior secondary phase introduces structured pathways. Learners choose one of three broad tracks: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; or Arts and Sports Science. They then select specialised subjects aligned with their interests and career goals, while core subjects like English, Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language, community service learning and physical education remain mandatory. This allows deeper focus on chosen fields, with timetables designed for practical, project-based learning.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has described the 2026 transition as a historic milestone. The ministry recently released Sh44.2 billion in Term I capitation funds for primary, junior and day secondary schools, ensuring a smooth reopening on 5 January, with Grade 10 learners reporting from today. Placements were handled digitally via the ministry’s portal, factoring in junior secondary assessments, learner preferences, merit, equity and school capacity.
Challenges in the transition
The transition has faced challenges. Early rollout phases saw parental concerns over costs for materials and activities, the need for teacher retraining, and infrastructure gaps such as laboratories and studios. A presidential working party on education reforms recommended adjustments, including subject rationalisation and stronger vocational emphasis, many of which have been implemented. The government has invested in constructing new facilities, including thousands of laboratories, and allocated funds for teacher retooling, with over 52,000 teachers retrained ahead of senior school.
TVET enrolment has expanded significantly, reflecting CBC’s multiple pathways approach rather than university as the only success route. Officials aim to boost technical and vocational training further to meet job market demands.
For learners like Mercy, who selected the STEM pathway with interest in technology, the system offers liberation. “We did projects and presentations in junior school,” she says. “Now we can explore what we love more deeply.”
Long-term promise and remaining hurdles
Educators see long-term benefits. The curriculum supports Kenya Vision 2030 by fostering innovation and employable skills. Early evidence shows greater student engagement in practical subjects.
Persistent issues include overcrowded classrooms in some areas, digital divides in rural regions, and the need for sustained funding and teacher support. Unions continue advocating for improved conditions amid the reforms.
As schools settle into this new era on 12 January 2026, the question shifts from which system Kenya uses — it is firmly CBC — to whether it can deliver equitable opportunities for a young population in a changing world. For millions stepping into senior school today, the answer will define their futures and the nation’s progress.
