Grade 9 learners to choose senior school pathways in second term
Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the move will give learners and parents ample time to make informed decisions.
Grade 9 learners will make their senior school selections in the second term once the Ministry of Education finalises the admission guidelines and the classification of schools.
Early Learning and Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the selection process has been separated from the registration for national examinations.
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Speaking during a forum in Nairobi County where stakeholders discussed the draft guidelines, Kipsang said the move will give learners and parents ample time to make informed decisions.
"The plan is to give students time during the school holidays to discuss their options with their parents. This way, when schools reopen, parents will have had the chance to guide their children, and schools will also be familiar with the guidelines — ensuring everyone is well-prepared," he said.
"This time we wanted to separate the selection process from exam registration so that the two remain distinct,” Kipsang added.
The nationwide forums on the draft guidelines concluded yesterday, and PS Kipsang stated that the ministry will incorporate feedback from the discussions into the final guidelines.
He announced that schools would be categorised according to the career pathways they will offer. The new classification will replace the current categories of national, extra-county, county and sub-county schools.
Classifications
Schools will now be classified as either triple or double pathway institutions.
Triple pathway schools will offer three career pathways – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); social sciences; and arts and sports.
Double pathway schools will provide STEM and one of the other two.
According to the draft guidelines, learners will be placed in a career pathway based on their ability, interest and merit.
They will select 12 schools, with four schools for their primary pathway, four for their second choice and four for their third choice.
For selection based on accommodation, nine schools will be boarding institutions — three from the learner's home county and six from outside their home county.
The remaining three will be day schools within the learner's home sub-county or sub-county of residence.
"By then [second term], the categorisation of schools will also be clear, so learners will know which schools offer three pathways and which ones offer two.
All schools will provide at least two pathways, with STEM being a primary pathway available in every school.
“This way, learners can make informed choices from the categorised schools. The ministry will ensure that the final guidelines cover everything before the selection begins," Kipsang explained.
Subjects
Senior schools will offer a total of 38 subjects, with core subjects including English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language for learners with hearing impairments, physical education, and community service learning. Information and communication technology will be integrated across all subjects.
Eunice Gachoka, the senior deputy director of Educational Media at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, projected that 15 per cent of learners will pursue the arts and sports pathway, which is structured to nurture creative talents and athletic abilities. This pathway is divided into two main areas, sports science and performing arts.
"We anticipate that 15 per cent of learners will pursue this route, while 60 per cent will opt for STEM. The STEM track will cover areas such as building construction, electricity, metalwork, mechanics, woodwork, media technology and specialised subjects like marine and fisheries technology, which will be available in select schools," she said.
Alice Gathii from the Ministry of Education assured that the placement process will be structured to guide learners into specialised fields based on their interests and abilities. She clarified that learners in triple pathway schools will not be required to take all three pathways.
She also outlined three accommodation models: day schools, hybrid schools (a combination of day and boarding) and special needs schools.
"We've ensured that learners with hearing, visual, physical, cognitive, or developmental challenges such as autism and cerebral palsy are not left behind," she said.
Regarding placement, Gathii assured parents that learner preferences and school capacity will be key considerations.
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