For the next 21 days, schools and parents will be tasked with helping Grade 9 students with selecting their career pathways ahead of their transition to Grade 10, set to start next year.
Under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the roughly 1.2 million students will be the first to enter Senior School and choose between three career pathways: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), arts and sports, and social sciences. Math, English, Kiswahili, and community service are still required, though.
The Ministry of Education has published subject combinations that are arranged according to five main pathways: STEM (Applied Sciences), STEM (Pure Sciences), Arts & Sports, and STEM (Technical Studies).
Here is the full review of subject combinations.
The Arts & Sports pathway allows students to specialise in theatre, film, and fine arts. If you choose Arts & Sports with a focus on Fine Arts, Theatre & Film, you can add either Arabic, Biology, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, English Literature, Mandarin, Advanced Mathematics, or Sports & Recreation.
Combining music and dance with fine arts is an additional choice within this pathway. Arabic, Biology, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, English Literature, Mandarin, Advanced Mathematics, or Sports & Recreation are all options if you choose Arts & Sports with a focus on Music & Dance or Fine Arts.
Students may also decide to study dance and music in addition to theatre and film. If you choose Arts & Sports with a focus on Theatre & Film, Music & Dance, you can add either Arabic, Biology, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, English Literature, Mandarin, Advanced Mathematics, or Sports & Recreation.
Sports & Recreation is another option on the pathway for those who are interested in physical education. You can add Arabic, Biology, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, English literature, Mandarin, Advanced Mathematics, or Media Technology if you choose Arts & Sports with a focus on Sports & Recreation.
Under the Social Sciences pathway, students can choose to study business and humanities. Adding Arabic, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, English literature, Mandarin, or Advanced Mathematics is an option if you choose to study Social Sciences with a focus on Business Studies and History & Citizenship.
Another route combines CRE/IRE/HRE with Business Studies. You can choose to add Arabic, Computer Studies, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, English literature, Mandarin, or Advanced Mathematics if you choose to study Social Sciences with a focus on CRE/IRE/HRE and Business Studies.
Learners can also explore CRE/IRE/HRE and Geography. If you choose to study Social Sciences with a focus on CRE/IRE/HRE and Geography, you can add Arabic, Computer Studies, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, German, English literature, Mandarin, or Advanced Mathematics.
Other combinations include History & Citizenship and Geography. If you opt for Social Sciences with an emphasis on History & Citizenship and Geography, you can add either Arabic, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, German, Literature in English, Mandarin or Advanced Mathematics.
Within the Languages & Literature track, students may take Arabic and French. If you opt for Social Sciences with an emphasis on Arabic and French, you can add either Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, General Science, Geography, History & Citizenship, Mandarin or Advanced Mathematics.
For students choosing Fasihi ya Kiswahili and Sign Language, the third subject could be Arabic, Business Studies, Chinese, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, French, General Science, Geography, History & Citizenship or Advanced Mathematics.
Another combination includes Indigenous Language and Literature in English. If you opt for Social Sciences with an emphasis on Indigenous Language and Literature in English, you can add either Arabic, Business Studies, Computer Studies, CRE/IRE/HRE, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, General Science, Geography, German, History & Citizenship, Mandarin, Advanced Mathematics or Sign Language.
Under the STEM, Applied Sciences pathway, students interested in Agriculture and Business Studies can add either Aviation, Biology, Building Construction, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Electricity, General Science, Geography, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics, Metal Work, Physics, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
Alternatively, students may choose Agriculture and Computer Studies. If you opt for STEM, Applied Sciences with an emphasis on Agriculture and Computer Studies, you can add either Aviation, Biology, Building Construction, Business Studies, Chemistry, Electricity, General Science, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics, Metal Work, Physics, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
Students may also pair Agriculture and Geography. If you opt for STEM - Applied Sciences with an emphasis on Agriculture and Geography, you can add either Aviation, Biology, Building Construction, Computer Science, Electricity, General Science, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics, Metal Work, Physics, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
In STEM, Pure Sciences, combinations are science-intensive. If you opt for STEM, Pure Sciences with an emphasis on Advanced Mathematics and Biology, you can add either Agriculture, Aviation, Building Construction, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Studies, Electricity, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Metal Work, Physics, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
Another rigorous track is Biology and Chemistry. If you opt for STEM, Pure Sciences with an emphasis on Biology and Chemistry, you can add either Agriculture, Aviation, Building Construction, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Electricity, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Metal Work, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
Students may also opt for Chemistry and Physics. If you opt for STEM, Pure Sciences with an emphasis on Chemistry and Physics, you can add either Agriculture, Aviation, Building Construction, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Electricity, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Metal Work, Power Mechanics or Woodwork.
The STEM, Technical Studies pathway offers a vocational angle. If you opt for STEM, Technical Studies with an emphasis on Aviation and Business Studies, you can add either Biology, Chemistry, Computer Studies, General Science, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics, Media Technology or Physics.
Another vocational combination includes Building Construction and Business Studies. If you opt for STEM, Technical Studies with an emphasis on Building Construction and Business Studies, you can add either Biology, Chemistry, Computer Studies, General Science, Geography, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics, Media Technology or Physics.
Students may also pair Electricity and General Science. If you opt for STEM, Technical Studies with an emphasis on Electricity and General Science, you can add either Computer Studies, Home Science, Marine & Fisheries, Advanced Mathematics or Media Technology.
The process of selecting the subject combinations is set to close on June 30, according to Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
