NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has intensified preparations for the 2026 Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition for senior school students, announcing plans to train 70,000 teachers and construct 2,600 laboratories across the country. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has allocated Sh1 billion to equip educators with the skills needed to handle the new Grade 9 curriculum, while the Ministry of Education aims to bolster practical learning through state-of-the-art laboratory facilities in secondary schools. Officials say these measures are designed to ensure a smooth transition and enhance access to quality education for over a million learners moving into senior school next year.
Director of Secondary Education, William Sugut, explained that the teacher training initiative will focus on equipping instructors to handle the three senior school pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Science, and Arts and Sports. The laboratory expansion will complement this by providing hands-on learning opportunities, particularly in science and technology subjects, which are central to the CBC framework. Our goal is to ensure students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also develop practical skills that align with career pathways, Sugut stated. The new labs and trained educators are expected to be deployed nationwide before the academic year begins in January 2026, marking the first full-scale rollout of the senior school CBC.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the developments, describing them as crucial steps toward modernizing Kenya’s education system. Teachers and school principals have expressed optimism that the additional resources will ease the burden of practical instruction, while parents hope the reforms will enhance learning outcomes and better prepare students for higher education and employment. Analysts note that these interventions signal a long-term commitment to equity and quality in education, as the government works to ensure that infrastructure and teacher capacity keep pace with curriculum reforms. With these initiatives, Kenya positions itself to strengthen STEM education and practical skill development, creating a foundation for a generation equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.