Senior school guidelines and selection pathways released
Grade 9 learners attend an English Literature lesson at Fairfield Primary School in Mombasa on February 4, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The three career pathways that have been adopted in senior schools are; social sciences, arts and sports and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
- Learners with special needs may select fewer schools, choosing institutions that align with their disability, including special needs or integrated schools.
Head teachers, parents and guardians will from Monday help approximately 1.2 million Grade 9 learners — the first cohort under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) — in selecting their career pathways ahead of their transition to Grade 10 next year.
The three career pathways that have been adopted in senior schools are; social sciences, arts and sports and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, mathematics, community service, English and Kiswahili remain compulsory.
The Ministry of Education has now rolled out comprehensive guidelines to facilitate the transition of Grade 9 learners to senior school in 2026. This includes the selection of career pathways, subject combinations and senior schools through an automated system.
Subject combinations
“Furthermore, the public senior schools are required to upload the subject combinations that they will be offering in 2026 on the system for the Grade 9 learners to select,” said Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
The PS directed junior schools to guide learners through the selection process using the platform, selection.education.go.ke.
In a circular addressed to all regional, county and sub-county directors of education, the PS provided a step-by-step guide on the process.
Senior school principals must log in using their institution’s Unique Identification Code (UIC) credentials, declare Grade 10 capacity and select subject combinations for at least two pathways. STEM is compulsory and each subject combination must have a minimum of 15 learners.
The Sub-County Director of Education will approve or reject subject combinations. If rejected, schools may delete and reselect combinations.
For junior schools, the headteacher logs in using the school's UIC credentials, accesses the list of Grade 9 learners, updates each learner’s profile, selects a pathway for each learner and proceeds to select three subject combinations. For every combination selected, four schools are chosen in four clusters, totalling 12 schools.
Grade 9 learners at Xaverian Eye Primary and Junior School in class during a lesson on January 6, 2025.
Learners with special needs may select fewer schools, choosing institutions that align with their disability, including special needs or integrated schools.
“All field officers are expected to support this selection process, which will run from June 9 to June 30, 2025,” said Prof Bitok.
In senior school, learners will take seven subjects, four — Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, and community service learning — are compulsory. These core subjects align with 21st century skills and national, regional and global requirements.
The current Grade 9 cohort will transition to senior school based on their career choices, academic performance, and interests. Placement will be informed by cumulative assessments in Grades 6, 7, 8, and 9—both formative and summative—culminating in an assessment in November.
Learners will select 12 schools: four for their first choice pathway, four for the second, and four for the third. In terms of accommodation out of the 12 schools, nine should be boarding, among them three from the home county of the particular learner and six in other places.
Each pathway has specialised tracks. Schools will be designated as either Triple Pathway Schools, offering all three pathways, or Dual Pathway Schools, offering STEM alongside either Social Sciences or Arts and Sports Science.
For the past few months, the Teachers Service Commission has been equipping principals with essential tools and skills on career pathways ahead of the transition. The more than 9,000 principals were retooled by senior education officials.
TSC wants the first CBC cohort to be adequately prepared to specialise in pathways that align with their aspirations, abilities, and career goals.
Next year, Kenya will witness one of the most significant educational reforms in history, as Grade 10 learners will begin their journey in specialised pathways.
Outgoing TSC boss Nancy Macharia has urged principals to ensure that all learners are placed in environments where their academic potential, interests, and talents can be nurtured. She said that senior school serves as a pre-career phase where students make informed choices based on their strengths and aspirations.
Teachers issue textbooks to Grade 9 learners at DEB Comprehensive School in Elburgon, Nakuru County on January 10, 2025.
She said SS serves as a pre-career phase where students make informed choices based on their strengths and aspirations.
Schools will be designated as either Triple Pathway Schools, offering all three pathways, or Dual Pathway Schools, offering STEM alongside either Social Sciences or Arts and Sports Science.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Association National Chairman Mr Willy Kuria said that 10 months from now more than 10, 000 secondary schools will receive Grade 10 learners.
“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,” said Mr Kuria.
However, the Muranga High School Chief Principal urged the state to ensure enough funds are pumped into the secondary schools to ensure they are well equipped.
He said retooling before the transition will ensure adequate preparedness.