The Ministry of Education has unveiled a progressive, learner-focused subject selection policy for Senior Schools, marking a significant shift in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rollout. In a recent directive issued by Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Prof Julius Bitok, students will now have the liberty to choose subjects from any of the three learning pathways — STEM, Arts & Sports Science, and Social Sciences — in line with their career goals and aptitude assessments.
The circular, sent to all regional, county, and sub-county education directors and copied to critical education stakeholders including the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), and university and TVET departments, emphasized that flexibility is key to fostering learner potential.
“It should be anticipated that a learner’s career choice may require taking one subject in each pathway. Such a situation should be permitted,” Prof Bitok stated, urging institutions to embrace versatility instead of rigid administrative rules.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has already prepared subject designs to support the implementation. Importantly, the Ministry cautioned against policies that limit students’ academic exploration, warning that neither bureaucratic procedures nor religious impositions should prevent learners from making informed choices.
In a strong reaffirmation of rights, the Ministry reiterated that schools must not compel learners to take part in religious rites against their faith, citing Circular Ref No: MOE.HQS/3/10/18 issued on March 4, 2022.
The new framework also outlines a 40-lesson weekly timetable that incorporates Physical Education (PE), ICT training, personal and group study sessions, as well as pastoral or religious instruction. According to the Ministry, this structure aims to balance academic rigour with holistic development.
Education experts have welcomed the move, saying it promotes learner agency and aligns with the CBC’s goal of producing competent, adaptable graduates. By giving students the autonomy to craft a subject combination that supports their ambitions, the policy is expected to open up more diverse career pathways and improve learner engagement across the country.
