The Kenya Insitute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has proposed 40 subjects to be introduced in the Competency Based Curriculum in Grade 10.
Grade 10 will be the first class in Senior Secondary School (SSS) which will have three grades set to begin in 2026.
The curriculum design stipulates that Grade 10 students will have a selection of 40 subjects where they will be required to pick seven based on the career path they intend to take in the future as they head to the university.
KICD noted that four subjects will be compulsory for all students which include English, Kiswahili, Community Service Learning and Physical Education(PE).
The three remaining subjects will be chosen from the 36 remaining subjects, and will based on the learner’s choices according to their chosen career pathway.
“At this level, learners shall take seven learning areas (LAs) as recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Educational Reforms (PWPER). These shall comprise four compulsory learning areas and three learning areas opted for by the learner according to their chosen Pathway,” read the curriculum design in part.
The career pathways are segmented into three categories, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences and lastly Arts and Sports Sciences
Under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) category, there will be options of 17 subjects namely:
1. Mathematics Advanced
2. Mathematics
3. Biology
4. Chemistry
5. Physics
6.General Science
7. Agriculture
8. Computer Studies
9. Home Science
10. Drawing and Design
11. Aviation Technology
12. Building and Construction
13. Electrical Technology
14. Metal Technology
15. Power Mechanics
16. Wood Technology
17. Media Technology
18. Marine and Fisheries Technology
The subjects to be offered under the Social Science Category include :
1. Advanced English
2. Literature in English
3. Indigenous Language
4. Kiswahili Kipevu/Kenya Sign Language
5. Fasihi ya Kiswahili
6. Sign Language
7. Arabic, French, German and Mandarin Chinese
8. History and Citizenship
9. Geography
10. Christian Religious Education/Islamic Religious Education/Hindu Religious Education
11.Business Studies
The last category of Arts and Sports Science offers the following subjects: Sports and Recreation, Physical Education, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film and Fine Arts.
The design provides guidelines for selecting subjects, particularly when their names suggest they are similar, such as English and Advanced English.
“While English and Kiswahili are indicated as compulsory, the learners who opt for these learning areas as their subjects of specialization shall go through a differentiated curriculum in terms of scope, experiences and assessment. Such learners shall, therefore, take Advanced English or Kiswahili Kipevu with an additional two lessons,” read the curriculum design in part.
This means that the students who choose to specialise in English and Kiswahili will have a differentiated curriculum where they will cover more advanced topics and content within the chosen language .
The additional lessons will allow for more focused and in-depth learning of the languages to prepare for a career in languages such as linguistics.
Students are required to choose at least two subjects from their selected pathway. However, in special cases, they can choose one subject from their Pathway and up to two subjects from any other Pathway, depending on their career goals and with advice from their school principals at Senior School.
KICD has urged stakeholders to give their views and recommendations on the proposed subjects and curriculum design via grade10feedback@kicd.ac.ke or info@kicd.ac.ke by July 31, 2024.
