The Ministry of Education has outlined that based on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), mathematics will no longer be mandatory for students transitioning to grade 10.
The new change was opposite to the 8-4-4 system where secondary school students were required to take Mathematics, English, Kiswahili and at least two sciences.
The CBC mandatory subjects will now include English, Kiswahili/Kenya Sign Language, Community Service Learning and Physical Education.
Students will now be allowed to select three optional subjects from those available according to their career path.
The pathways were categorized in three ways: Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences and Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Arts and Sports will comprise of Fine Arts, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film, Physical Education, Sports and Recreation.
The second pathway, Social Sciences, will include Business Studies, History and Citizenship, Geography, Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE), Hindu Religious Education (HRE), Community Service Learning (CSL) and Languages and Literature Subjects.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will comprise of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and General Science, Applied Sciences which will include Agriculture, Computer Science, Home Science, Technical Studies.
The Ministry of Education also directed that up to 60% of current grade 9 learners should pursue STEM in senior secondary school starting January.
The students will be allowed to select their preferred subjects from the second term to allow them to access their options from the first term.
