Nationwide training for 7,000 principals begins ahead of Grade 10 rollout in 2026

With less than a year to go before the first cohort of learners joins senior school under the CBC, the government has launched a countrywide training targeting more than 7,000 secondary school principals.

The training, scheduled to run from Thursday to Saturday, will take place in 50 centres across all 47 counties.

It will be conducted by officials from the Ministry of Education, Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), Kenya Institute of Special Needs Education (Kise) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Senior school under the competency-based curriculum is set to be rolled out in January 2026, marking a critical phase in the ongoing education reforms.

“Secondary school principals play key roles in the successful implementation of the curriculum. The implementation of the competency-based education is in high gear with Grade Nine learners expected to transit to senior school in 2026,” read a statement from the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (Cemastea), one of the key institutions involved in the training.

Manage transition effectively

Cemastea stressed the importance of strengthening the capacity of secondary school principals to manage the transition effectively.

Appearing before the National Assembly on Tuesday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government plans to train and retool at least 212,000 teachers ahead of the January 2026 deadline.

Even as the national rollout begins, hundreds of secondary school principals from the Central region—including Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Machakos, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, and Laikipia counties- have already been attending a retooling session in Mombasa since Monday.

The principals invited senior education officials, led by TSC Director of Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni, to oversee their training. Lentoijoni delivered a speech on behalf of the commission’s CEO, Nancy Macharia.

“The transition into senior school is a significant milestone, especially the introduction of career pathways that align with learners’ aspirations and abilities,” Macharia said in her speech.

“Your leadership as principals is instrumental in ensuring the success of this transition. You will be at the forefront of ensuring a seamless transition and effective implementation of the CBC in senior schools.”

Under the new structure, senior schools will offer three career pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Arts and Sports Science; and Social Sciences. Schools will be categorised as either triple pathway institutions—offering all three pathways—or dual pathway institutions—offering STEM alongside one other pathway.

“As we prepare for the first cohort of Grade 10 learners in 2026, it is imperative to ensure we have the necessary facilities, well-trained teachers, and a supportive learning environment,” Macharia said.

“The modern economy demands a workforce that is not only knowledgeable but also adaptable and capable of innovation. The shift to competency-based teaching is designed to ensure that learners are prepared for multiple post-secondary pathways.”

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• 000 principals begins ahead of Grade 10 rollout in 2026

Ready for Grade 10 learners

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) National Chairperson Indimuli Kahi assured that more than 10,000 secondary schools are ready to receive learners joining Grade 10.

“We have enough space because currently, we do not have Form Ones following the phasing out of 8-4-4 and at the same time, the Form Four candidates will have left by January. Remember, secondary schools had built some classes anticipating that the Junior Secondary School would be placed in our facilities,” he said.

However, the Chief Principal of Murang’a High School urged the state to ensure adequate funding is provided to support schools during the transition.

“We have had a rough time as far as resource mobilisation is concerned, and capitation is a major challenge. We hope these perennial challenges will be addressed,” Kahi said.

He added that most national, extra-county, and large county schools are prepared to offer all three career pathways but emphasised that every school must at least offer the STEM pathway.

Kahi emphasised that the retooling programme will ensure that schools and educators are adequately prepared for the major curriculum shift.