Grade 9 Senior School Selection in Kenya to Begin May 20, 2025

Grade 9 Senior School Selection in Kenya to Begin May 20, 2025.

The Ministry of Education has scheduled the Grade 9 learners to begin selecting their preferred Senior Secondary Schools starting May 20, 2025. Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan shared the update on April 24 during the National Convention on Competency-Based Education held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

He emphasized that the process is kicking off early to ensure a smooth shift for learners from Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary, which starts at Grade 10. According to him, the Ministry had already established clear transition guidelines. He told the convention that from May 20, students would begin choosing their senior school options.

The Deputy Director of Education, Fred Odhiambo, noted that this year’s selection approach would be more tech-driven than in the past. He highlighted that schools would now be grouped based on specialized learning pathways, aligning with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The pathways include Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences (Humanities), Performing Arts, Music, and Athletics.

Learners will be required to select a total of 12 schools. Out of these, nine must be boarding schools. Three of the boarding school options must be from the student’s home county. The other three choices are to be day schools, all of which must be located in the learner’s home sub-county.

An official at the Ministry commented, “We’re using this system to provide learners with variety while also ensuring accessibility based on their location.”

New Math Requirement Reinstated

The announcement came just hours after another significant update from the Ministry of Education. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba issued a directive reinstating mathematics as a compulsory subject across all senior secondary pathways.

Previously, the CBC framework had categorized mathematics as optional depending on the pathway selected. This decision reversed that policy. CS Ogamba clarified that students pursuing the STEM pathway would now study pure mathematics, while those in the Humanities and Arts pathways would be offered a less advanced version of the subject.

Ogamba explained to reporters that “we need mathematics to be present in all three pathways. STEM students will handle pure maths while the other two pathways will take a simpler form.”

This change brings mathematics back into prominence in the new curriculum, mirroring its compulsory status under the former 8-4-4 system.

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The government aims to ensure an effective and equitable transition to senior secondary education. The emphasis on early selection, digital integration, diversified school categories, and core subject reinstatement reflects a broader goal of strengthening CBC implementation.

Officials reiterated that these changes were designed to support learners in identifying their strengths while maintaining essential academic skills. One ministry source remarked that the reforms would “shape learners’ futures in a balanced and inclusive way.”

Grade 9 Senior School Selection in Kenya to Begin May 20, 2025.

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