CBC system: Uncertainty looms for Grade 9 learners amid school choice delays
The delay has raised concern among parents and education stakeholders, who say the lack of communication and clarity risks compromising the learners’ preparation for the next stage of the CBC.
Over one million Grade 9 learners expected to join Senior Secondary School in January 2025 have been left in confusion and anxiety after missing a critical deadline to select their preferred schools and subjects, two weeks after the May 20 deadline passed without action from the Ministry of Education.
The delay has raised concern among parents and education stakeholders, who say the lack of communication and clarity risks compromising the learners’ preparation for the next stage of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
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The categorisation of schools, a necessary step before learners can begin selections, is yet to be completed, stalling the process further.
In April, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok promised that the selection process would kick off by May 20.
He made the assurance during the National Conversation on Competency-Based Education, saying the ministry was on track with preparations.
That date has now passed, with no public update or explanation from the ministry.
“We have been in talks with the government and they have assured us that the selection exercise will start soon,” said Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association chairman Fuad Ali in an interview with The Standard.
However, he confirmed that schools were yet to begin the exercise.
Under the CBC roadmap, Grade 9 learners were expected to choose 12 schools: nine boarding and three day schools, distributed across different pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Humanities, and Performing and Sports Arts.
This selection is crucial as it will determine learners' subject clusters and school placement for Senior Secondary education.
The delays have further complicated an already packed calendar. Grade 9 learners are currently undertaking practical assessments for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), with written tests set for October and November.
The theory exams will run from October 27 to November 5, according to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) timetable.
This gives learners only a few months to understand their options and prepare for placement decisions that could shape their career paths.
This is the pioneer group under the CBC system to join Senior Secondary School, making this selection process a crucial test for the system’s readiness.
The Ministry had also planned to open the school portal to private institutions for the first time, giving learners a chance to choose either public or private schools, a system modelled on university placements.
However, it remains unclear whether learners who opt for private institutions will be eligible for government capitation, leaving parents with more questions than answers as the school year approaches.
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