How State is preparing to enroll Grade 10 learners in Senior Schools come 2026

Machogu gave assurance that the State is ready to seamlessly enroll Grade 10 learners.

In Summary
  • The CS asserted that the available resources will be able to cater for all the needs of the anticipated first cohort of Grade 10 learners. 

  • On human capital, Machogu said since 2022, the ministry has level up recruitment of teachers. 

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu
Image: FILE

The Ministry of Education is set to enroll the first cohort of Grade 10 learners into Senior School for three years under the Competency Based Curriculum in 2026.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu when he appeared before Senators on Wednesday gave assurance that the State is ready to seamlessly enroll Grade 10 learners as it phases out 8-4-4 from Secondary schools. 

"I would like to give assurance that all the necessary preparations for Senior School which will commence from January 2026 are in top gear," the CS said. 

Machogu said the ministry has been able to look at the aspect of infrastructural development in terms of classrooms and laboratories and an assessment was conducted in line with the number of secondary schools available. 

The CS asserted that the available resources will be able to cater to all the needs of the anticipated first cohort of Grade 10 learners. 

On human capital, Machogu said since 2022, the ministry has leveled up recruitment of teachers. 

"Up to now, we have been able to recruit 56,750 teachers right from Primary school, JSS and Senior School," he said. 

To ensure the teachers are well equipped to handle CBC, Machogu told the Senators the ministry has been undertaking retooling of the tutors. 

Further, he noted that the KICD has worked on the curriculum that will guide the Grade 10 learners. 

On the pathways Senior School has to offer learners, Senate Committee on Education Chairperson Joseph Nyutu sought to know whether all Senior Schools will offer all three pathways or if each school will offer specific career paths for learners. 

Machogu confirmed that there will be three pathways in Grade 10. 

"The three are Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences commonly known as humanities and the final one is performing arts, music and athletics," the CS said. 

The purpose of having three paths, Machogu explained, is to allow for specialisation. 

"We want to nurture talent. Not all of us can be talented in sciences, or humanities and some of us are very good in arts. We want to nurture learners where one is identified to be good in a certain area," Machogu said. 

On whether the schools will offer all three paths or specialise, Machogu said the ministry is still coming up with a plan. 

He said the Ministry has prepared a sessional paper on the subject which will be discussed in parliament. 

"There might be areas where we might have pure STEM. There might be areas where there is a mixture such that the school is offering humanities and STEM as well, but I don't want to pre-empt that particular debate because I know the sessional paper, once it is discussed in parliament, will give a way forward." 


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