State makes Math mandatory for all CBC senior school learners after public outcry
Under the revised curriculum, STEM students will continue with advanced mathematics, while their peers in the other two pathways will engage with more foundational versions of the subject, designed to align with their focus areas.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that mathematics will once again be a required subject in all senior secondary school tracks under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), reversing an earlier plan to make the subject optional in non-science streams.
The announcement was made during the National Conversation on the CBC, where Ogamba stated that the Ministry had acted on widespread concerns raised during public consultation forums.
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This change affects all three pathways: STEM, Arts and Sports Science, and Social Sciences, ensuring that no senior school student is exempt from studying mathematics.
“The majority of stakeholders during the CBC dialogue were of the view that mathematics should be compulsory in senior school. We have listened to your concerns, consulted with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and resolved that some form of mathematics be made compulsory for the two pathways that are not STEM,” Ogamba said during his address.
Under the revised curriculum, STEM students will continue with advanced mathematics, while their peers in the other two pathways will engage with more foundational versions of the subject, designed to align with their focus areas.
“We will have the STEM pathways having pure maths and the other two pathways having a form of maths, so that we have maths in all three pathways in senior school,” Ogamba clarified.
Criticism of initial framework
This policy adjustment follows criticism over the initial framework, which allowed students outside the STEM stream to opt out of mathematics entirely.
That decision was met with widespread backlash from educators, professionals, and the public who argued that it would weaken learners’ problem-solving skills and limit future opportunities.
One of the strongest voices opposing the earlier model was the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK), which raised concerns about the long-term consequences of removing mathematics from the curriculum for certain pathways.
In a March 17 statement, IEK emphasised that the subject is essential to the nation’s technical growth and professional development.
“Mathematics, in particular, is the language of engineering and technology, underpinning design, optimisation, problem-solving, and data analysis in fields ranging from civil and electrical engineering to artificial intelligence and renewable energy,” the body stated.
Ogamba stressed that the decision reflects the ministry’s commitment to incorporating public feedback and improving the CBC system to meet both educational and national development goals.
“Your voices matter. As a Ministry, we take your concerns seriously as we work to refine and strengthen the CBC, which, despite its good intentions, has faced significant criticism,” he said.
With this new direction, mathematics will once again become a key part of every student’s academic experience in senior school, underlining the government’s emphasis on developing analytical skills and foundational knowledge across all disciplines.
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