National Schools to Offer All CBC Career Pathways Starting 2026

National Schools to Offer All CBC Career Pathways Starting 2026

In a significant reform of Kenya’s education framework, all national schools will be mandated to implement all three senior school career pathways commencing in January 2026, as announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. This development signifies a considerable transformation in the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), as the government seeks to improve inclusivity, diversity, and preparedness for the job market among students.

The three pathways—Social Sciences, Arts and Sports, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)—will be compulsory for all national schools. This action is part of a wider transition aimed at capitalizing on the infrastructure, staffing, and academic prowess of national institutions.

While addressing attendees at the National Schools Conference in Mombasa, CS Ogamba confirmed that the classification of schools into national, extra-county, county, and sub-county will be eliminated in 2026. Instead, institutions will be classified as either “triple pathway” or “double pathway” based on their capacity to implement the CBC.

“We have already established guidelines for the transition to Grade 10 in January 2026. Eliminating the current school categorization is crucial to ensure equitable access to all pathways,” Ogamba remarked. “We are encouraging schools with the requisite infrastructure and staffing to adopt the triple pathway classification. ”

Ogamba reassured stakeholders that the government will enhance infrastructure in targeted schools to facilitate the new structure, which includes facilities for arts and sports that have historically been underdeveloped.

In support of the policy, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia called upon national schools to take the lead in this transformative initiative. “With your superior facilities, you are well positioned to provide all three pathways that characterize the CBC,” she stated.

Macharia, who is preparing for her retirement in two months, disclosed that the commission has already retooled over 450,000 teachers to manage CBC content. This includes:

229,292 primary school teachers
75,000 junior secondary school teachers
154,292 secondary school teachers

This training, conducted through a multi-agency and cascade model, was realized in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and other partners.

“As I near the end of my tenure at the TSC, I take pride in leaving behind a well-trained teaching workforce and established systems to effectively manage the education sector,” Macharia articulated.

She also emphasized the successful negotiation and execution of two major Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), which she noted have contributed to stability within the education sector.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education will facilitate a National Conversation on Competency-Based Education (CBE) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The event is anticipated to convene education specialists, government representatives, parents, and students to deliberate on CBC implementation and shape the subsequent phase of reform.

The rollout of the triple pathway is set to be a transformative element in Kenya’s educational landscape, establishing a foundation for a more skills-oriented and student-centered system that meets the requirements of the 21st-century workforce.

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National Schools are set to provide all CBC Career Pathways commencing in 2026.