Seven thousand principals of secondary schools will be trained on the transition from junior to senior school at 50 centres across the 47 counties from Thursday to Saturday.
The training will be conducted by officials from the Ministry of Education, Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), Kenya Institute of Special Needs Education (Kise), and the Teacher Service Commission (TSC). Senior school under the competency-based curriculum (CBC) will be rolled out in January 2026.
“Secondary school principals play key roles in the successful implementation of the curriculum. The implementation of the competency-based education is in high gear with Grade Nine learners expected to transit to senior school in 2026,” reads a statement from the Centre of Mathematics Science and Technology Education in Africa (Cemastea).
The centre said there is a need to enhance the capacity of the secondary school principals in handling the transition successfully.
Appearing before the National Assembly yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba said that 212,000 teachers are targeted for training and retooling before January 2026.
Even as the government rolls out the national programme, more than secondary school principals from the Central region of Muranga, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Machakos, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi and Laikipia counties have been in Mombasa since Monday for the crucial retooling.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba.
Photo credit: Pool
The principals have invited senior education officials led by TSC director of staffing Antonina Lentoijoni to train them. She read a speech by the CEO of the commission, Nancy Macharia.
The TSC boss said the transition into senior school is a significant milestone, especially the introduction of career pathways that align with learners’ aspirations and abilities.
“Your leadership as principals is instrumental in ensuring the success of this transition. You will be at the forefront of ensuring a seamless transition and effective implementation of the CBC in senior schools,” she told the principals.
The three pathways are science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), arts and sports science, and social sciences.
Senior schools will be categorised as either triple pathway schools, offering all three pathways, or dual pathway schools, offering STEM alongside either social sciences or arts and sports science.
“As we prepare for the first cohort of Grade 10 learners in 2026, it is imperative to ensure we have the necessary facilities, well-trained teachers, and a supportive learning environment,” Ms Macharia added.
“The modern economy demands a workforce that is not only knowledgeable but also adaptable and capable of innovation. The shift to competency-based teaching is designed to ensure that learners are prepared for multiple post-secondary pathways,” she added.
The national chair of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha)said that the more than 10, 000 secondary schools will be ready receive learners in Grade 10.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association national chairman Willy Kuria.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
"We have enough space because currently, we do not have Form Ones following the phasing out of 8-4-4 and at the same time, the Form Four candidates will have left by January. Remember secondary schools had built some classes anticipating that the Junior Secondary School would be placed in our facilities," said Mr Kuria.
However, the Muranga High School Chief Principal urged the state to ensure enough funds are pumped into the secondary schools to ensure they are well equipped.
"We have had a rough time as far as resource mobilisation is concerned and capitation is a major challenge. We hope these perennial challenges will be addressed. Most of the national, extra county and big county schools will take the three career pathways and that is what we have been learning. But all schools must take the STEM pathways," said the Kessha chairman.
