CBC Transition Drive: Ministry Launches Nationwide Initiative to Boost STEM Enrollment.
The Ministry of Education has initiated a nationwide program targeting junior schools to increase student enrollment in the STEM pathway at the senior secondary level.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Africa, which has introduced a STEM outreach program designed to inspire students to pursue science subjects ahead of senior school selection and registration. However, this effort has also exposed significant infrastructural challenges that may hinder the effective promotion of STEM education.
Excitement and New Learning Experiences
In Kajiado County, students expressed excitement as they engaged in hands-on science and technology activities for the first time. Previously, concepts taught in their poorly equipped classrooms remained purely theoretical.
Many students had never set foot in a laboratory or worked with a computer. Some noted that for the first time, they were able to use a light microscope in integrated science, observe a central processing unit, and explore various scientific concepts, such as the structure and function of plant and human cells. Others learned about the construction and expansion of metals and how these principles could be applied in the future.
Preparing for Senior School Selection
These academic tours, organized by the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa, come at a crucial time as students prepare to select their senior school pathways next term. The available options include STEM, social sciences, arts, and sports science.
The goal is for 60% of junior school learners to pursue the STEM track. To support this, the ministry aims not only to provide opportunities in senior schools but also to establish a strong foundation that fosters student interest in STEM subjects.
Schools have been categorized based on four parameters: the number of career pathways they offer (either three or two), whether they are mixed or single-gender, whether they are day or hybrid boarding schools, and whether they cater to learners with special needs. Schools offering all three pathways—STEM, arts and sports, and social sciences—will not require students to study all three, but rather provide them as options.
Learners will select 12 senior schools, which will be used in their final placement decision. Their selection will be influenced by performance in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment, scheduled for October 27 to November 5, 2025, as well as their abilities, talents, regional balance, and resource availability in the chosen schools.
To streamline learning, the ministry has rationalized senior secondary school subjects. Students will now study seven subjects—four core subjects and three selected from their chosen pathways. English remains mandatory to ensure effective communication skills. Other core competencies include critical thinking, basic research skills, and scientific literacy.
Challenges in STEM Implementation
Despite these efforts, the transition to senior school remains hindered by persistent challenges in the implementation of the CBC curriculum, particularly concerning infrastructure. The focus is on making STEM education more practical rather than theoretical, as practical engagement is essential for assessing students’ interests, abilities, and personalities. Without hands-on experience, educators cannot accurately evaluate learners’ potential in STEM fields.
Understanding the structure of CBC remains a challenge, even for education stakeholders. The system outlines multiple tracks, but clarity on the available options is still lacking. The complexity of pathways has led to confusion among students and educators alike. Additionally, in science-focused schools, only a small percentage of students are allowed to pursue arts, limiting opportunities for many learners.
The implementation of CBC has faced numerous obstacles, especially in junior secondary. Schools are grappling with a severe teacher shortage, with some institutions relying on just one or two teachers to cover multiple subjects. In some cases, a single teacher is responsible for teaching all 11 learning areas across three different grades. As a result, students often receive minimal instruction, resorting to self-marking assignments due to the overwhelming workload on teachers.
Many primary school teachers have had to step in to support junior secondary students due to the insufficient number of trained educators. However, not all schools have the capacity to transfer staff from primary to junior secondary. This lack of preparedness raises concerns about the transition to senior secondary and whether the same issues will persist.
The government introduced an intern program to address teacher shortages, with the promise of permanent employment. However, only a fraction of these interns have been absorbed into the system. Many teachers opt for employment under Boards of Management, which offer similar pay to government internships but with better job security. Despite efforts to recruit more educators, the total number of teachers remains inadequate, failing to meet the demands of junior secondary education.
Addressing the Infrastructure Gap
The Ministry of Education has launched a nationwide initiative in junior schools to encourage student enrollment in the STEM pathway. The Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Africa introduced a STEM outreach program to inspire students to embrace science subjects before their senior school selection. However, the program also exposed significant infrastructure gaps that could hinder STEM education.
The government emphasized the need for a practical approach to STEM education, particularly within the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Officials stressed that theoretical teaching alone was insufficient for identifying learners’ abilities, interests, and talents. Practical lessons were deemed crucial to making learning more effective.
As the transition nears, stakeholders continue to urge the government to fulfill its promise of constructing additional laboratories and senior schools to accommodate students in the STEM pathway. Plans include the construction of 1,600 physical laboratories and 2,000 virtual laboratories to bridge the existing gaps.
President William Ruto previously emphasized the recruitment of teachers and the restructuring of junior secondary to address CBC challenges. His administration planned to hire additional educators, integrate diploma-certified primary teachers into junior secondary, and ensure a smooth transition to senior secondary.
However, despite these initiatives, the teacher shortage remains a pressing issue. The employment process primarily formalized existing intern positions rather than introducing new hires, leaving the crisis unresolved.
Read Also: KUPPET Restructures Leadership to Include More Women and JSS Teachers
Conclusion
The shortcomings of CBC are likely to have long-term consequences. Current junior secondary students may struggle in senior secondary due to inadequate foundational learning, particularly in STEM subjects. This deficiency will affect their ability to transition into higher education and specialized career paths. The long-term implication is a workforce that lacks the necessary expertise, which could weaken key economic sectors.
In particular, future teachers may emerge from this system with insufficient training, creating a ripple effect that further deteriorates education quality. If urgent measures are not taken to rectify these challenges, the flaws of today’s CBC implementation will be felt in Kenya’s economy over the next decade.
As the country prepares for the full transition to senior secondary, it is crucial to address the existing gaps in junior secondary. Teachers, students, and parents continue to raise concerns about the system’s effectiveness. Without strategic intervention, the challenges facing junior secondary today will only escalate, deepening the crisis in Kenya’s education sector.
CBC Transition Drive: Ministry Launches Nationwide Initiative to Boost STEM Enrollment.
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