The Kenyan Competency based Curriculum was designed by Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (2017) and has 5 levels which are:
- Pre-primary Education (2 Years) i.e. Pre-Primary 1 and Pre-Primary 2 commonly known as PP1 and PP2.
- Lower Primary (Grade 1 to Grade 3) and is expected to run for 3 years
- Upper Primary (Grade 4 to Grade 6) and is expected to run for 3 years
- Lower Secondary (Grade 7 to Grade 9) and is expected to run for 3 years
- Senior School (Grade10 to Grade 12) and is expected to run for 3 years.
Most Kenyans are not conversant with the subjects learners are expected to learn at various levels. Hence we set out to summarize the subjects for them to enable them guide and prepare learners adequately for the academic task ahead.
SUBJECTS FOR PRE-PRIMARY (TWO YEARS)
- Language Activities
- Mathematical Activities
- Environmental Activities
- Psychomotor and Creative Activities
- Religious Education Activities
NB: Digital literacy and pertinent and contemporary issues will be integrated across all Subjects.
SUBJECTS FOR LOWER PRIMARY: GRADE 1 TO GRADE 3 (THREE YEARS)
- Literacy
- Kiswahili Language Activities/Kenya Sign Language for learners who are deaf
- English Language Activities
- Indigenous Language Activities
- Mathematical Activities
- Environmental Activities
- Hygiene and Nutrition Activities
- Religious Education Activities
- Movement and Creative Activities
NB:
- ICT will be a learning tool in all areas.
- Pertinent and contemporary issues will be mainstreamed in all Subjects.
SUBJECTS FOR UPPER PRIMARY: GRADE 4 – GRADE 6 (THREE YEARS)
- English
- Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (for learners who are deaf)
- Home Science
- Agriculture
- Science and Technology
- Mathematics
- Religious Education (CRE/IRE/HRE)
- Creative Arts
- Physical and Health Education
- Social Studies
Optional:
- Foreign Languages (Arabic, French, German, Mandarin)
NB:
- ICT will be cross cutting in all subjects.
- Pertinent and contemporary issues and life skills will be mainstreamed in all Subjects.
- A pastoral program of instruction will be conducted once a week.
SUBJECTS FOR LOWER SECONDARY: GRADES 7 – GRADE 9 (THREE YEARS)
Core Subjects
- English
- Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language for learners who are deaf
- Mathematics
- Integrated Science
- Health Education
- Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education
- Social Studies
- Religious Education – learners choose one of the following:
- Christian Religious Education
- Islamic Religious Education
- Hindu Religious Education
- Business Studies 1
- Agriculture
- Life Skills Education
- Sports and Physical Education
Optional Subjects (Minimum 1, Maximum 2)
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Home Science
- Computer Science
- Foreign Languages:
- German
- French
- Mandarin
- Arabic
- Indigenous Languages
- Kenyan Sign Language
NB: ICT will be a delivery tool for all Subjects
SUBJECTS FOR SENIOR SCHOOL GRADES 10 – GRADE 12 (THREE YEARS)
Subjects for Senior School are based on various pathways
Pathways after Lower Secondary
Core Subjects for all Students in Senior School
- Community Service Learning
- Physical Education
1. Arts and Sports Science Pathway
a. The Arts Track
Core subjects
(i) Legal and Ethical issues in Arts
(ii) Communication Skills
Optional Subjects
The learner will be required to take one of the following subjects:
i. Performing Arts
(i) Music
(ii) Dance
(iii) Theatre and Elocution
ii Visual and Applied Arts
(i) Fine Art
(ii) Applied Art
(iii) Time Based Media
(iv) Crafts
b. Sports Science Track
Core subjects
(i) Human Physiology, Anatomy and Nutrition
(ii) Sports Ethics
Optional Subjects (Minimum 1, Maximum 2)
i. Ball Games
ii. Athletics
iii. Indoor Games
iv. Gymnastics
v. Water Sports
vi. Boxing
vii. Martial Arts
viii. Outdoor Pursuits
ix. Advanced Physical Education
2. The Social Sciences Pathway (Comprises of three tracks, learner to choose a minimum of 3 subjects and a maximum of 5 subjects)
a. Humanities
(i) History and Citizenship
(ii) Geography
(iii) Christian Religious Education
(iv) Islamic Religious Education
(v) Hindu Religious Education
b. Languages
(i) English Language
(ii) Literature in English
(iii) Lugha ya Kiswahili
(iv) Fasihi ya Kiswahili
(v) Kenyan Sign Language
(vi) Indigenous Languages
(vii) Arabic
(viii) French
(ix) German
(x) Mandarin
c. Business Studies
(i) Business studies
(ii) Mathematics
3. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pathway (Comprises of 4 Career Tracks)
a. Pure Sciences Track
b. Applied Sciences Track
c. Technical and Engineering Track
d. Career and Technology Studies (CTS) Track
Core subjects
(i) Community Service
(ii) Physical Education
(iii) ICT
Optional Subjects (Select 1 Subject):
i. Agriculture ii. Computer Science iii. Foods and Nutrition iv. Home Management
Optional Subjects (Minimum 3 Subjects):
i. Mathematics
ii. Physics
iii. Chemistry
iv. Biology
Optional Subjects (select one subject) Optional Subjects
- Agricultural Technology (select one subject)
- Geosciences Technology i. Garment iii. Marine and Fisheries Technology Making and
iv. Aviation Technology Interior Design v. Wood Technology ii. Leather Work vi. Electrical Technology iii. Culinary Arts vii. Metal Technology iv. Hair Dressing
viii. Power Mechanics and Beauty ix. Clothing Technology Therapy
x. Construction Technology v. Plumbing and xi. Media Technology Ceramics
- Electronics Technology vi. Welding and
- Manufacturing Technology Fabrication xiv. Mechatronic vii. Tourism and
Travel
viii. Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration ix. Animal Keeping x. Exterior Design and Landscaping
xi. Building
Construction xii. Photography
xiii. Graphic
Designing and
Animation xiv. Food and
Beverage xv. Motor Vehicle
Mechanics xvi. Carpentry and
Joinery xvii. Fire Fighting viii. Metalwork xix. Electricity
- Land Surveying
- Science
Laboratory
Technology xxii. Electronics xiii. Printing
Technology xiv. Crop Production