CBC Pathways Explained: From Early Years to Senior Secondary.
The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) follows a structured progression starting from preschool, now categorized under early years education. This stage lays the foundation for Junior Secondary School (JSS), where learners explore three distinct pathways.
In early childhood education, students engage with seven learning areas, including mathematics, English, and environmental activities. As they progress to middle school, the number of subjects increases to eight and further expands to nine at the junior secondary level.
Environmental activities in early years evolve into specialized subjects in middle school, such as social studies, science and technology, and agriculture. This systematic development ensures that the nine learning areas at JSS serve as stepping stones toward selecting a suitable educational pathway.
Subjects and Pathway Formation at Junior Secondary
Junior Secondary School students study subjects such as integrated science, social studies, agriculture, mathematics, pre-technical education, English, religious education, Kiswahili, and creative arts. The subjects at this stage influence their pathway choices in senior secondary school.
The CBC framework introduces three primary pathways at the senior level: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; and Arts and Sports Science. These pathways are linked to specific subjects based on content alignment.
STEM comprises integrated science, pre-technical studies, agriculture, and mathematics due to their interconnected nature. Social Sciences cover religious education, English, social studies, and Kiswahili. Meanwhile, the Arts and Sports Science pathway stems from creative subjects that learners have engaged with since early childhood, nurturing artistic and athletic talents.
Senior Secondary: Pathways and Specialized Tracks
Starting January 2026, learners transitioning to senior secondary school will select a specialized track within their chosen pathway. Subject choices at this stage play a critical role in shaping career opportunities.
The STEM pathway divides into pure sciences, applied sciences, and technical studies, each focusing on specific subjects. Social Sciences split into humanities and languages, while the Arts and Sports Science pathway offers separate tracks for arts and sports.
Students in the Arts and Sports Science pathway will study five subjects: Music, Dance, Theater and Film, Fine Arts, and Physical Education. They will not take subjects like English or Social Studies. Despite specialization, all students must complete four compulsory subjects: functional English, community service learning, physical education, and another subject relevant to their chosen pathway.
Each student in senior secondary studies only seven subjects, including the four core subjects, ensuring a balance between specialization and broad educational exposure. After these compulsory subjects, students must select three additional subjects. Two of these must align with their primary pathway, while the third can be chosen from another pathway to provide flexibility and broader career prospects.
Subject Selection and Career Pathways
Students in the Humanities and Social Sciences pathway select subjects such as geography, literature in English, additional languages, and sign language. The subject selection structure allows them to choose three additional subjects beyond the compulsory ones—two aligning with their primary pathway and one from any other pathway, ensuring career flexibility.
The STEM pathway offers distinct subject tracks. Those choosing pure sciences may focus on chemistry, mathematics, or general science, depending on their career aspirations, such as medicine. Applied science covers home science, computer studies, and agriculture, while technical studies provide options like wood technology, aviation technology, electrical technology, building and construction, media technology, power mechanics, and metal technology.
By making informed subject choices, learners can tailor their education to align with their career aspirations. The CBC system enhances opportunities by allowing students to explore an additional subject outside their primary pathway, broadening their future possibilities.
Challenges in Implementing Career Pathways
As the pioneer Grade 9 cohort prepares to enter Senior School in January 2026, concerns persist regarding the implementation of the CBC pathways. Many parents and students remain uncertain about the process of pathway assignment and subject availability.
One major concern is determining which schools will provide specific pathways. Questions remain about whether all institutions will offer the three options—STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts & Sports Science—or if some schools will specialize in particular pathways.
CBC Pathways Explained: From Early Years to Senior Secondary.
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