Kenya is standing on the edge of an educational turning point. Come January 2026, the first Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort will step into senior school—a moment unlike any in the country’s learning history. This isn’t just another policy rollout; it’s a shift that challenges old norms, redefines success, and places the learner at the center of it all.

For decades, the 8-4-4 system revolved around one decisive moment: the KCPE exam. A single score determined a child’s future. Now, the conversation is changing. With CBE, passion, aptitude, and career alignment all matter. Parents, teachers, and learners are being asked a bigger question: not just “Which school?” but “Which path will shape a life?”

Such a change doesn’t happen on its own. Moving from junior to senior school under CBE requires more than new classrooms and timetables—it demands systems that track learner strengths, manage data, and guide decision-making. From understanding CBC senior school pathways to using platforms like the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) and leveraging tools like Learnademy, all stakeholders have a role in ensuring a smooth transition.

Why Senior School Selection Matters More Than Ever

Under the old system, a student’s destiny was often decided by a single exam. A child who scored 400+ in KCPE could end up in a national school, regardless of whether they dreamed of engineering or music. The senior school transition under CBE changes this.

Career alignment is now central. The Ministry of Education’s online portal links over 350 professions to specific subject clusters. A student aspiring to a career in medicine should pursue STEM with a focus on pure sciences, while a future journalist might choose Social Sciences. This approach ensures learners are making choices based on their skills, passions, and long-term goals.

Understanding CBE Senior School Pathways

The CBE model introduces three distinct senior school career pathways designed to align learners with their interests and future aspirations. The STEM pathway focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, with tracks such as Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, and Technical & Engineering, preparing learners for careers like doctors, engineers, data analysts, and pilots.

The Arts and Sports Science pathway offers tracks in Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Sports, leading to careers such as musicians, athletes, filmmakers, and designers. The Social Sciences pathway covers tracks in Humanities and Business & Entrepreneurship, opening opportunities for careers in law, journalism, economics, and psychology.

Regardless of the chosen pathway, all learners are required to take compulsory subjects including Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, and Community Service. Schools offering these pathways are categorized as either Triple Pathway schools, providing all three options, or Dual Pathway schools, combining STEM with one other pathway.

Grade 9 Career Selection: Making Informed Decisions

From June 9th to June 30th, 2025, Grade 9 learners must select their preferred pathways and schools via the Ministry’s portal. With guidance from parents and teachers, each learner will choose one primary pathway and two alternatives. For each pathway, they select four schools across four clusters, totalling twelve school choices. The system then automatically matches learners to schools based on grades, interests, and available capacity, ensuring fairness and structure.

Parents can actively support learners during this process. Using the portal’s career guides provides clarity on options and their implications. Attending school meetings ensures up-to-date information, while balancing passion with practicality helps children make choices aligned with both their interests and potential career opportunities.

Addressing Challenges: What Schools and Parents Should Prepare For

Despite its promise, the CBE framework faces hurdles. Infrastructure gaps, particularly in Cluster 3–4 schools, mean many lack fully equipped STEM labs. Minimum class size requirements of at least 15 learners per subject combination can restrict options, and not all educators are fully prepared to deliver CBE effectively.

To mitigate these challenges, solutions include advocating for county-level funding, adopting blended learning approaches such as virtual labs, and leveraging tools like Learnademy for teacher upskilling. Supporting learners with special needs remains a priority. CBE allows flexibility, including fewer school selections aligned with disability needs, specialized tracks in integrated schools, and portal filters to identify accessible institutions.

Future-Proofing Kenyan Careers

This reform aligns with Vision 2030 and the Digital Economy Blueprint, emphasizing early talent nurturing to drive national growth. Targeted pathways will help develop globally competitive tech innovators through STEM, cultivate creative leaders via Arts and Sports, and shape future policymakers through Social Sciences. By connecting learning with real-world career opportunities, Kenya is preparing a generation ready to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development.

The senior school transition under CBE is more than an administrative change; it’s about unlocking potential. For parents, it’s a call to engage; for schools, a challenge to adapt; for learners, an opportunity to take ownership of their futures. Success will depend on collaboration between parents, teachers, and technology partners, ensuring that every learner thrives.