Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), first introduced in 2017, is set to reshape the country’s education landscape as its pioneer students in grade one reach grade nine in 2025, facing their first life-defining national examination. Unlike the old 8-4-4 system, where academic progression and career paths were heavily dependent on grade 8 and 12 exams, the CBC shifts critical decision points to grade 9, determining students’ tracks into STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts & Sports based on their performance.
The new CBC system emphasizes continuous assessment, with at least 40% of a student’s grade determined by teachers’ in-class evaluations, moving away from reliance on national exams alone. Additionally, the curriculum prioritizes skills and competencies such as communication, critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, and problem-solving, instead of rote memorization. These competencies aim to equip learners with practical abilities required for the evolving job market and society.
Education experts highlight that while CBC offers a progressive framework, challenges remain in its implementation, including teacher preparedness, infrastructure, and consistent assessment practices. Parents and educators are hopeful that the transition will better prepare students for university and careers, aligning education more closely with Kenya’s economic and technological ambitions. The grade 9 examination in 2025 is therefore being closely watched as the first major test of the new curriculum’s effectiveness.