CS Ogamba Clarifies the Situation on Making Mathematics an Optional Subject
Following several days of increasing public pressure and confusion, the Ministry of Education has withdrawn its contentious proposal to render Mathematics an optional subject under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba clarified the situation during the CBC National Conversation event that took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Thursday, April 24.
“The majority of the stakeholders during the CBC dialogue believed that Mathematics ought to be compulsory in senior schools,” Ogamba declared.
“We have heard your concerns, consulted with KICD, and come to a decision that some form of Mathematics will be made compulsory for the other two pathways. ”
This clarification comes in the wake of significant criticism from education stakeholders, parents, and the public, many of whom expressed worry about the long-term effects of diminishing a core subject like Mathematics in senior schools.
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Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok additionally reinforced the ministry’s position, asserting that Mathematics remains a mandatory subject in both junior and senior schools across all pathways. “There is no confusion,” Bitok remarked. “Mathematics is fundamental and will continue to be taught as a core subject. ”
The original suggestion to make Mathematics optional for non-STEM pathways in senior secondary was withdrawn after comprehensive consultations with educational experts, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), and various public forums. While Ogamba’s wording—“some form of mathematics”—still provoked questions online, the primary message was unmistakable: the subject is here to remain.
Critics had previously expressed concerns that diminishing math would put students at a disadvantage in real-world problem-solving and future careers.
The Ministry now confronts the challenge of ensuring that the revamped Mathematics curriculum in non-STEM tracks is practical, relevant, and aligned with national educational objectives. For the time being, the government seems to have made a complete turnaround—and Kenyans are observing how this essential subject will be implemented moving ahead.
