Concerns Over Government Preparedness for Grade 9 Transition to Senior Secondary

Concerns Over Government Preparedness for Grade 9 Transition to Senior Secondary.

Education stakeholders have expressed significant concerns about the government’s readiness to transition Grade 9 learners to Senior Secondary School (SSS) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) next year.

They highlighted critical challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, unprepared teachers, and unclear policy frameworks, which threaten the seamless transition of the pioneer CBC cohort.

One major issue is the lack of clarity on how schools will be mapped to different academic pathways. Despite government assurances that every district will have at least one school offering all pathways, stakeholders report that specific allocations remain unclear.

School heads and teachers have indicated they are still awaiting detailed communication on which schools will specialize in which disciplines.

Uncertainty Among School Heads and Teachers

Stella Wambua, Principal of Buruburu Girls’ School, noted that schools have not been officially mapped to pathways. She acknowledged the possibility of readiness if the curriculum designs are provided promptly.

A teacher at Maryhill Girls’ High School echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for clear directives. Another teacher in Machakos County expressed skepticism about whether boarding facilities could handle potential over-enrollment, stressing the necessity of retooling teachers to handle the CBC curriculum effectively.

Challenges in Infrastructure and Curriculum Design

The delay in finalizing the curriculum has raised alarms about schools’ ability to prepare adequately for implementation. Students currently in Grade 8 will need to select specializations in Grade 9, choosing from three pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Arts and Sports Science; and Social Sciences.

While the government has been assessing shared resources between secondary schools and nearby technical institutions, the extent of infrastructural adjustments remains uncertain.

Teacher Training and Resource Allocation

Concerns have also emerged regarding the training and retooling of teachers for CBC delivery. While junior school educators have undergone training, questions linger about the preparedness of senior school teachers.

Prof. Egara Kabaji of Machakos University pointed out that, unlike the transition to Junior Secondary School (JSS), senior schools already have subject-specialized teachers. However, he emphasized the need for clear selection criteria for pathways and robust teacher retooling programs.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia, reported that capacity-building sessions are ongoing. She affirmed that teachers have been adapting well to CBC requirements, but stakeholders continue to call for more comprehensive in-service training programs.

Curriculum Development Progress

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is finalizing the curriculum for Grade 10 learners. Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, KICD Director, revealed that curriculum designs have been prepared, and learning materials will undergo evaluation and approval by April 2025. The proposed materials include textbooks, workbooks, teacher’s guides, and literary texts to support Grades 10 to 12.

KICD recently invited publishers to submit proposals for senior secondary learning materials. The institute has outlined submission, evaluation, and approval guidelines on its website, with the aim of enhancing education quality for the CBC system.

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Pathway-Based Student Placement

Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang clarified that students transitioning to Grade 10 will be placed based on their chosen pathways rather than specific schools.

This approach aims to align learners with institutions that best support their academic and career aspirations within STEM, Arts and Sports Science, or Social Sciences.

Despite ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Education and stakeholders, concerns persist about whether these initiatives will ensure a smooth transition for learners as the CBC system enters a critical phase.

Concerns Over Government Preparedness for Grade 9 Transition to Senior Secondary

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