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| Preparing Future-Ready Graduates: CBE Rollout in Senior Schools |
Preparing Future-Ready Graduates: CBE Rollout in Senior Schools
Senior schools across Kenya have successfully enrolled the first cohort of Grade 10 learners under the Competency‑Based Education (CBE) curriculum, marking a major milestone in the rollout of a reformed education system aimed at aligning learning with students’ skills and career aspirations.
Education stakeholders, parents, and learners have expressed cautious optimism following an orderly and largely smooth transition into senior secondary school.
This first cohort’s enrolment comes after months of preparation by government agencies, school administrators, and communities to ensure the new senior school structure takes root.
Under the revised curriculum, Grade 10 learners begin their senior school journey with specialised pathways in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports.
These pathways are designed to enable students to pursue study areas that match their skills and interests earlier than under the previous system, laying a foundation for future career choices.
At schools such as Merishaw in Kajiado County, high turnout by parents and learners was reported, with many praising the efficient coordination of the exercise.
School officials noted that lessons learned from earlier phases of the CBE rollout had contributed to smoother admissions this term.
Despite the positive start, challenges remain in the nationwide implementation of the new senior school system. Some learners have not yet reported to their assigned schools, with parents citing financial constraints and related costs as barriers to timely admission.
Education officials have acknowledged these concerns and extended the reporting period to give families more time to complete enrolment.
Placement into senior schools is managed through the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), which improves transparency and efficiency of learner assignments.
Over one million learners have been placed in senior schools, and the government has reiterated its commitment that no learner will be denied access due to logistical delays.
Efforts to support the transition extend beyond admissions. The government has invested in printing and distributing Grade 10 textbooks and has retooled teachers to equip them with the necessary skills to deliver the CBE curriculum effectively.
As learners settle into their new academic environment, education experts stress that continued support for infrastructure development, teacher capacity building, and community engagement will be essential to ensure that the Competency‑Based Education system achieves its goal of producing skilled, adaptable, and future-ready graduates.
Preparing Future-Ready Graduates: CBE Rollout in Senior Schools