The system of education used in Kenya started with the 7-4-2-3 curriculum in 1963. This system came during British colonial system of government, and practiced even after Kenya got its independence.
The system entailed a learner taking introductory two years in nursery and pre-unit, seven years in the primary education, four years in the junior secondary, two years in the senior secondary level and then a minimum of three years in the tertiary level or university, a total of 18 years.
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In 1985, the body in charge of curriculum (KICD) came up with an improved system of education 8-4-4. The system had that students would first undertake two years in nursery school before taking eight years in primary school, four years in secondary school and another four years minimum in tertiary education or university, a total of 18 years once again.
In 2017, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) proposed an even more elaborate system of education known as the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
This system of education will ensure learners take a minimum of 17 years in their entire learning process, until they attain their first degree or TVET program under the distribution 2-6-3-3-3.
In this new system, what was initially known as subjects will now be called learning areas, topics will be referred to as strands and sub-topics will go after the name sub-strands.
The KICD has grouped the levels as illustrated below;
I) Early year education comprising of pre-primary and lower primary
II) Middle school that comprises of upper primary and lower secondary
III) Senior school that consists of upper secondary
IV) Tertiary education that comprises the TVET and/or university.
The compulsory strands that will be thought under the new curriculum in primary levels are ; ICT (key delivery tool for other strands), social studies, Kiswahili, mathematics and English. For the students who are visually impaired, the Kiswahili and English languages are replaced by the Kenya sign language. The learners also choose one strand from Christian/ Islamic/Hindu religious education.
The core strands in junior secondary are business studies, agriculture, life skills education, sports and physical education, integrated science, health education, pre-technical and pre-career education.
The skills acquired in pre-technical education include auto mechanics, accounting, home management, textiles and clothing, wood work, short hand typewriting, drawing metal work, electricity and electronics.
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The pre-career education will be in a position to help learners be prepared to choose careers when they get into the senior secondary school and later tertiary institutions.
