Teachers · Kenya

Using virtual labs to teach Kenya's Competency-Based Education

VR Labs Africa · 10 November 2026 · 2 min read

Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum, now called Competency-Based Education (CBE), asks teachers to do more than cover content. Learners should be able to apply what they know, think critically and solve problems. Junior School science in Grades 7 to 9, and the STEM pathway in Senior School, put practical skills at the centre.

For many schools, the challenge is equipment. Virtual labs give every learner hands-on practice without waiting for a laboratory.

Linking virtual labs to the core competencies

Critical thinking and problem solving: learners design a test, change one variable and explain the result.
Creativity and imagination: in robot design and 3D modelling, learners build their own solutions.
Communication and collaboration: pairs share roles and present findings to the class.
Digital literacy: learners use a real scientific tool on a computer, not just a typing exercise.
Learning to learn: the lab gives instant feedback, so learners can try again and improve.

Evidence for assessment

CBE relies on formative assessment and portfolios. Virtual labs make evidence easy to collect:

screenshots of a learner's set-up and results table;
a short written explanation of what they found;
a photo of the class discussion chart.

These fit naturally into school-based assessment records and learner portfolios.

A Grade 8 example

Topic: forces and motion. Learners use the Mechanics lab to compare how far a trolley travels on different surfaces. They record distances, draw a bar chart and write two sentences on friction. The teacher assesses the skill of fair testing, not just the final answer.

Preparing for Senior School pathways

Learners who want the STEM pathway in Grade 10 need confidence with experiments, measurement and data. Regular practice in virtual labs from Grade 7 builds that confidence early.

Getting started

Start with one lab per strand this term. Create a free account, or ask your school to book a demo so the whole science department can plan together.