Compulsory and Optional Subjects To Be Studied Under New Curriculum (CBC).
The introduction of new competence based curriculum has brought several changes into the education system in Kenya.
Among the changes expected in the Kenyan’s education system under the new curriculum is the subjects to be studied and the years learners will take to complete their education cycle.
The number of years learners will spend to complete their education cycle Under the new curriculum is 17 in total I.e 2– pre-primary, 6– primary school, 3– junior secondary, 3– senior secondary and 3- university.
In the old curriculum, learners spent a total of 18 years in school.
The compulsory subjects under the Competence Based Curriculum include:
✓ ICT ( key delivery tool for other subjects)
✓ English
✓ Mathematics
✓ Kiswahili
✓ Social Studies
✓ Kenya Sign Language in place of English and Kiswahili for learners with hearing impairment
✓ Christian/ Islamic/ Hindu Religions Education
Other core subjects that learners must study in junior secondary school are:
✓ Business studies
✓ Agriculture
✓ Life Skills Education
✓ Sports and Physical Education
✓ Integrated Science
✓ Health Education
✓ Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education.
Pre-technical subjects are key in preparing learners for work by instilling technical skills and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks.
Skills that will be taught under pre-technical education include:
✓ auto mechanics
✓ accounting
✓ home management
✓ textiles and clothing.
✓ woodwork
✓ shorthand
✓ typewriting
✓ technical drawing
✓ metalwork
✓ electricity and electronics.
The skills acquired from technical education will help learners to efficient at work, boost their confidence and make them more marketable in the job market.
Pre-career education will prepare learners to choose their career paths after completing senior secondary. They will be able to make informed choices.
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For the optional subjects, students will be able to select these subjects based on their interests, abilities, personality and career choosen.
There are seven optional subjects in junior secondary which are:
✓ Visual Arts
✓ Performing Arts
✓ Home Science
✓ Computer Science.
✓ Foreign languages like, French, Chinese, Arabic, Mandarin and German
✓ Indigenous language of own choice from Kamba,Ogiek, Digo, Maa, Somali, Luhya or Idakho.
✓ Kenya Sign Language.
