Competency based curriculum is the new system that was introduced by the government of Kenya to replace the incumbent 8.4.4 system that was coined by the late president Moi in the year 1985.CBC system of education is centered on creative thinking rather than memorizing facts and information.
Because the cbc system is more centered on identifying what learners can do and not what they know,its adoption has won the hearts of learners,teachers and parents.
How CBC is organized
Pre-primary Education
All learners are expected to begin their basic education at this level. This is a two year programme where learners are taught the following subjects;
- Language Activities
- Mathematical Activities
- Environmental Activities
- Psychomotor and Creative Activities
- Religious Education Activities
Lower Primary
The learners from pp2 will join lower primary in grade 1 when they are about 6-7 years of age and
spend 3 years in this part of Early Years Education before transitioning to middle school at the end of
grade 3.
Subjects
The following are subjects taught in lower primary
- Literacy
- Kiswahili Language Activities/Kenya Sign Language for learners who are deaf
- English Language Activities
- Indigenous Language Activities
- Mathematical Activities
- Environmental Activities
- Hygiene and Nutrition Activities
- Religious Education Activities
- Movement and Creative Activities
Middle School Education
Middle school education comprises of three years of upper primary and three years of lower secondary education.
Learning Outcomes for Middle School
By end of middle school, the learner should be able to:
- Apply literacy, numeracy skills and logical thinking appropriately in self-expression.
- Communicate effectively in diverse contexts.
- Demonstrate social skills, and spiritual and moral values for peaceful co-existence.
- Explore, manipulate, manage and conserve the environment effectively for learning and
sustainable development. - Practice hygiene, appropriate sanitation and nutrition to promote health.
- Demonstrate ethical behaviour and exhibit good citizenship as a civic responsibility.
- Demonstrate appreciation of the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage for harmonious
co-existence. - Manage pertinent and contemporary issues in society effectively.
- Apply digital literacy skills appropriately for communication and learning.
Upper Primary
Upper primary is also part of the middle school.Its is a three year programme where learners
are exposed to a broader learning curriculum and are given an opportunity to explore and experiment on various learning fields
Subjects covered in the upper Primary are
- English
- Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (for learners who are deaf)
- Home Science
- Agriculture
- Science and Technology
- Mathematics
- Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
- Creative Arts
- Physical and Health Education
- Social Studies
Optional: - Foreign Languages (Arabic, French, German, Mandarin)
Secondary Education
Secondary education is divided into two levels that is, lower secondary (Grades 7, 8 and 9)
and senior school (Grades 10, 11 and 12).
Lower Secondary
Graduates of primary school Grade 6 proceeds to join lower secondary at Grade 7. Lower secondary
will expose the learner to a broad based curriculum to enable them to explore their own abilities.
personality and potential as a basis for choosing subjects according to career paths of interest at
the senior school. At Grade 4, learners will be introduced to the optional subjects offered at upper
primary so as to make informed choices at Grade 7. Learners in lower secondary will undergo a
thorough career guidance program and be exposed to the related subjects to enable them to
make informed choices as they transit to senior school.
Subjects for Lower Secondary School
The Subjects are in two categories that is core and optional subjects. At this level, a broad based
curriculum is offered to enable the learner to explore their own interests and potential as a basis
for choosing subjects according to career paths of interest at senior level.
Core Subjects
The following are the core subjects that are taught in lower secondary school:
- English
- Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language for learners who are deaf
- Mathematics
- Integrated Science
- Health Education
- Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education
- Social Studies
- Religious Education – learners choose one of the following:
i. Christian Religious Education
ii. Islamic Religious Education
iii. Hindu Religious Education - Business Studies
- Agriculture
- Life Skills Education
- Sports and Physical Education
Optional Subjects
Learners are provided with an opportunity to choose a minimum of one and a maximum of two
subjects according to personality, abilities, interests and career choices from the list provided.
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Home Science
- Computer Science
- Foreign Languages:
i. German
ii. French
iii. Mandarin
iv. Arabic - Kenyan Sign Language
- Indigenous Languages
Senior secondary
The learner entering this level shall have had opportunities at lower secondary to explore their
own potential, interests and personality and is therefore ready to begin specialisation in a career
path of choice. The specialization entails choosing to pursue studies in one of the three pathways
available in senior school.
Pathways available in senior schools
1.Arts and sports sciences
2.Social sciences
3.Science technical engineering and Mathematics(STEM)
The end results for senior schools are as follows:
- Communicate effectively and utilize information and communication technology across
varied contexts. - Apply mathematical, logical and critical thinking skills for problem solving.
- Apply basic research and scientific skills to manipulate the environment and solve
problems. - Exploit individual talents for leisure, self-fulfillment, career growth, further education and
training. - Uphold national, moral and religious values and apply them in day to day life.
- Apply and promote health care strategies in day to day life.
- Protect, preserve and improve the environment for sustainability.
- Demonstrate active local and global citizenship for harmonious co-existence.
- Demonstrate appreciation of diversity in people and cultures.
- Manage pertinent and contemporary issues in a responsible manner
Core Subjects
It is expected that the learner takes the two core subjects provided, irrespective of the pathway
identified which are:
i. Community Service Learning
ii. Physical Education
Arts and Sports Science Pathway
In both the Arts and Sports tracks, the learner will be expected to learn core subjects as well as
choose options. Life skills in this learning pathway will be adapted to suit the specific issues in
each learning area.
a. The Arts Core subjects
i. Legal and Ethical issues in Arts
ii. Communication Skills
Optional Subjects
The learner will be required to take one of the following subjects:
Performing Arts
1) Music
2) Dance
3) Theatre and Elocution
Visual and Applied Arts
1) Fine Art
2) Applied Art
3) Time Based Media
4) Crafts
Sports Science
Core subjects:
i.Human Physiology, Anatomy and Nutrition
ii. Sports Ethics
Optional Subjects
The learner shall choose a minimum of one and a maximum of two of the following subjects
according to the learner‟s personality, interests, ability and career choices:
i. Ball Games
ii. Athletics
iii. Indoor Games
iv. Gymnastics
v. Water Sports
vi. Boxing
vii. Martial Arts
viii. Outdoor Pursuits
ix. Advanced Physical Education
The Social Sciences Pathway
The Social Sciences pathway will provide a variety of disciplines that will enable the learner to choose a career path in an area of interest and ability. Schools offering this pathway can offer all or any of the subjects in the three tracks. The learner is expected to choose a combination of subjects in line with their career choices. The learner will choose a minimum of three and a maximum of five subjects. Students can choose the following subjects of social sciences
Humanities which comprises of;
- History and Citizenship
- ii. Geography
- iii. Christian Religious Education
- iv. Islamic Religious Education
- v. Hindu Religious Education
- vi. Business Studies
- vii. Mathematics
Languages which comprises of;
- English Language
- ii. Literature in English
- iii. Lugha ya Kiswahili
- iv. Fasihi ya Kiswahili
- v. Kenyan Sign Language
- vi. Indigenous Languages
- vii. Arabic
- viii. French
- ix. German
- x. Mandarin
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pathway
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway shall be offered in 60% of senior schools. It will therefore take 60% of the students entering senior school from lower secondary and it shall comprise four career tracks namely;
a) Pure Sciences
Core subjects
· Community Service Learning
· Physical Education
· ICT
Optional
The learner will select a minimum of three of the following subjects:
· Mathematics
· Physics
· Chemistry
· Biology
b) Applied Sciences
Core Subjects
· Community Service Learning
· Physical Education
· ICT
Optional
The learner shall in addition select one of the following subjects:
· Agriculture
· Computer Science
· Foods and Nutrition
· Home Management
c) Technical and Engineering
Core Subjects
· Community Service Learning
· Physical Education
· ICT
· Mathematics
· Physics/Physical Sciences
· Chemistry/Biology/Biological Sciences
Optional
The learner shall in addition select one of the following subjects:
. Agricultural Technology
· Geosciences Technology
· Marine and Fisheries Technology
· Aviation Technology
· Wood Technology
· Electrical Technology
· Metal Technology
· Power Mechanics
· Clothing Technology
· Construction Technology
· Media Technology
· Electronics Technology
· Manufacturing Technology
· Mechatronics
d) Career and Technology Studies
(CTS) Core Subjects
· Community Service Learning
· Physical Education
· ICT
Optional
The learner shall in addition select one of the following subjects:
· Garment Making and Interior Design
· Leather Work
· Culinary Arts
· Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy
· Plumbing and Ceramics
· Welding and Fabrication
· Tourism and Travel
· Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
· Animal Keeping
· Exterior Design and Landscaping
· Building Construction
· Photography
· Graphic Designing and Animation
· Food and Beverage
· Motor Vehicle Mechanics
· Carpentry and Joinery
· Fire Fighting
· Metalwork
· Electricity
· Land Surveying
· Science Laboratory Technology
· Electronics
· Printing Technology
· Crop Production