Kenya's Competency-Based Education explained for parents

Kenya replaced the 8-4-4 system with the Competency-Based Curriculum, now called Competency-Based Education (CBE). Many parents have questions about how it works.

The structure

• Pre-primary: two years.
• Primary: Grades 1 to 6.
• Junior School: Grades 7 to 9.
• Senior School: Grades 10 to 12, with pathways.

What is different

CBE focuses on what learners can do, not just what they know. Learners do more projects, practical activities and group work. Assessment includes school-based assessment and portfolios, not just final exams.

Assessments along the way

Learners sit the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in Grade 6 and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in Grade 9, which feeds into Senior School placement.

Senior School pathways

From Grade 10, learners follow a pathway: STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science. Learners who want careers in engineering, medicine, technology or agriculture usually choose STEM.

How you can help

• Support projects at home without doing them for your child.
• Encourage practical activities: measuring, building and experimenting.
• Ask the school how practical science is taught.
• Use virtual labs at home for extra practice.

Practical science at home

Virtual labs let your child practise science experiments at home, which helps with Integrated Science in Junior School and prepares them for the STEM pathway.

Sign up free and see our guide on choosing the STEM pathway.