Nairobi, Kenya – More than 1.2 million learners are set to transition into senior secondary schools in January 2026, marking the first large-scale rollout of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. The historic move is intended to better align students’ skills with industry demands, but schools and stakeholders are expressing concerns over preparedness and capacity.
With only three months to go, public institutions are under pressure to accommodate the influx. Key challenges include insufficient infrastructure, limited trained teachers for senior secondary subjects, and disparities in digital literacy, as many students have never interacted with computers. The government has assured that plans are underway to use primary school compounds for the transition where space is constrained, but critics warn that this stopgap measure may not fully address overcrowding and learning quality.
Parents, educators, and civil society have voiced mixed reactions. Some applaud the progressive shift towards skills-based education, emphasizing the long-term benefits for Kenya’s workforce. Others, however, are anxious about resource gaps and the potential for disruption during the first year of the transition. Education officials have called for patience, highlighting ongoing teacher retooling programs and infrastructure upgrades aimed at ensuring a smooth rollout.