Teachers in secondary schools will undergo in-service training on the competency-based education (CBE) before the rollout of senior school (Grade 10) in January 2026.
As a result, the principal secretary for Higher Education, Ms Beatrice Inyangala, has directed all public universities to urgently begin the in-service teacher education programme. With the roll-out of CBE, secondary schools will hence be referred to as senior schools.
Dr Inyangala said that teachers in secondary schools lack competency in the three pathways for senior school. The pathways are science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), social sciences, and arts and sports. There are 154,200 teachers in secondary schools.
Grade 9 learners attend an English Literature lesson at Fairfield Primary School in Mombasa on February 4, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“You realise that our students will be transiting to senior school in January, the teachers who are going to teach them are our products... these teachers do not have competencies in the three pathways. We have a very urgent assignment beginning July to start developing those levels so that we can actualise in-service for the teachers who will be teaching in senior schools,” Dr Inyangala said in Mombasa during a conference for chairpersons of councils of public universities.
The PS said the teachers must be equipped to deliver CBE and that the matter should be put on the agenda of every university council meeting, going forward. “It is very urgent,” she said.
About 1.2 million learners currently in junior school are set to transit to senior school in January.
Tinderet MP Julius Melly, the chairperson of the Education Committee of the National Assembly, says the state has allocated Sh600 million for training across the country on CBE programmes and transition to senior school.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
The chairperson of the Education Committee of the National Assembly, Julius Melly, said the training of senior teachers is on course and the state has allocated Sh600 million for training across the country on CBE programmes and transition to senior school. The allocation is within the budget of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Mr Melly said there is no cause for alarm on the training, adding that there is sufficient time to do it. “We have time. Retooling and capacity building is an aspect of teaching. Every other time teachers undergo several trainings on new skills, new methodology of teaching, and new ways of handling their subjects. Teaching and learning is an aspect of everyday life of a teacher so it’s not a new thing,” said the MP.
Leaners in Grade 9 are currently selecting the preferred career pathways and the subjects they wish to pursue in senior school.
Last week, the Ministry of Education began sensitising stakeholders on how to help Grade 9 learners select the career pathways. The exercise is set to last a month.
Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Prof Julius Bitok, has urged parents and guardians to help their children in the selection of pathways and subjects.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Prof Julius Bitok, urged parents and guardians to help their children in the selection of pathways and subjects.
The PS spoke in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County when he commissioned a new multi‑purpose hall at ACK Kaplelach High School. He explained how the system of selecting pathways and subjects works, terming it “easy”.
So far, the TSC has trained more than 7,000 school principals. According to data by the commission, since the introduction of the CBE seven years ago, 229,292 primary school teachers, 75,000 teachers in junior schools have been trained.
In April, chief principals of national schools held a conference in Mombasa where they urged the Ministry of Education to hasten the training of teachers on CBE.
“We are counting months. They need to be taken through the curriculum and the designs,” said Dr Silas Mwirigi, the chief principal of Kagumo High School.
He said that by the time the learners transit to senior school in January, all teachers should be at the same level.
Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia says the employer is working to ensure that all teaching staff are adequately trained.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Outgoing TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia said the employer is doing everything to ensure that all teaching staff are adequately trained to make them ready for the first cohort of Grade 10 students in 2026.
The pioneer cohort of the CBE will undertake the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment in November. After the results are announced, the Ministry of Education will place them in various senior schools. The placement exercise will be based on choice of pathways, learners' abilities, interests, and career choices.
