The CBC curriculum is aimed to equip the learner with the knowledge, skill, and attitude to navigate the 21st-century requirements.
The current high school (senior school) will offer different pathways depending on its infrastructure.
In Kenya, after junior school learners progress to senior school where they specialize depending on their talents and interests.
The Basic Education Curriculum Framework (BECF) 2019 by KICD, specifies three (3) pathways. The pathways include:
Table of Contents
- Arts and sports science
- Social sciences
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
For all learners irrespective of the pathway choice they must take community service and physical education as core units in addition to others in their specialization
Arts and Sports Science pathway
This pathway will equip the learner with skills and knowledge in arts and sports. It is further categorized into 3 areas.
Sports science option
The path allows learners to pursue courses depending on their interests, abilities, and personality type.
Subjects in sports science
Core subjects
- Human Physiology, Anatomy, and Nutrition
- Sports Ethics
Optional Subjects
The learner is required to take a minimum of one and a maximum of two subjects:
- Ball Games
- Athletics
- Indoor Games
- Gymnastics
- v) Water Sports
- Boxing
- vii) Martial Arts
- Outdoor Pursuits
- Advanced Physical Education
Career prospects
Those who take this pathway can either be self-employed or be employees in the following career areas:
- Instructor
- Physiotherapist
- Sports coach
- Sports nutritionist,
- Personal trainer
- Gym attendant,
- Fitness program coordinator
- Swimming pool attendant, coaching
- Physical therapist
- Referee
- Athletic trainer
- Stadia manager
- Aerobics and anaerobic trainer
- Sports journalists among others
Performing arts option
This deals with music, dance, theatre, and elocution. The learner will specialize in one of the areas depending on their interest.
Subjects in performing arts
The subjects in the area are
Core subjects
- Legal and Ethical issues in Arts
- Communication Skills
Optional Subjects
The learner is required to take one of the following subjects:
- Music
- Dance
- Theatre and Elocution
Career prospects
The job opportunities for performing arts include:
- Musician
- Dancer
- Vocalist
- Comedian
- Instrumentalist
- Actor/actress
- Video producer
- Movie director
- Choreographer
- Stage manager
- Custom designers
- Makeup artist
- Entertainment manager
Visual and applied arts
It deals with visual and audio-sensory perception through two or three-dimensional artworks. The learner will be able to create artwork images, videos, and other multimedia items.
Subjects in visual arts
Core subjects
- Legal and Ethical issues in Arts
- Communication Skills
Optional Subjects
The learner is required to take one of the following subjects:
- Fine Art
- Applied Art
- Time-Based Media
- Crafts
Career prospects
Those who choose this pathway can have employment opportunities to work as:
- Graphic designer
- Product designer
- Fashion designer
- Illustrators
- Fine artist
- Animators
- Videographer
- Photographer
- 3D artist
Social Sciences pathway
This branch of science studies how society behaves and interacts to affect the surroundings and community in general. It deals with history, societal norms, and community interaction and tries to explain why people behave as they do.
It helps the learner understand their role and responsibilities at local community, national, and global levels for sustainable coexistence.
The pathway is further categorized into 2, Languages and Literature, Humanities, and Business Studies.
Languages and Literature
This area of study deals with how communities use languages to communicate and for other human interactions. Each community has its languages, its origin, and so forth which the pathway tries to study.
It also deals with different works of literature that are used to depict the community’s behavior.
Subjects in studies in languages and literature
The learner is required to choose a minimum of three and a maximum of five subjects.
- English Language
- Literature in English
- Lugha ya Kiswahili
- Fasihi ya Kiswahili
- Kenyan Sign Language
- Indigenous Languages
- Arabic
- French
- German
- Mandarin
Career opportunities in the pathway
Some of the job opportunities for those who will follow this path include:
- Journalist
- Author
- Publisher
- Editor
- Translator
- Speech therapist
- Scriptwriter
- Public relation specialist
- Digital content creator
Humanities and Business Studies
Humanities is an umbrella of many disciplines which include studies on history, philosophy, cultures, linguistics, archaeology, religion, and sociology among others.
On the side of business studies, it majors on global standards in business, finance, and entrepreneurship.
Subject selection on the pathway
The learner is required to choose a minimum of three and a maximum of five subjects. The subject to be selected includes
- History and Citizenship
- Geography
- Christian Religious Education
- Islamic Religious Education
- Hindu Religious Education
- Business Studies
- Mathematics
Career prospects
- Archaeologist
- Historian
- Museum curator
- Journalist
- Social worker
- Diplomat
For business careers some of the most common are
- Accountant
- Entrepreneur
- Marketing Manager
- Project manager
- Human resource manager
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
STEM is a broad career path that includes the areas of science, the latest technology, different engineering fields, and mathematics and their applications.
The STEM is aimed to make Kenya an industrialized country by producing those who will work in the industries. Most of the skills for industries will be done by those who will choose the STEM pathway.
According to KICD, the pathway is further categorized into 4 which are:
Pure science
The pure scientist mostly deals more with the theoretical part of science without concentrating on its application in real life. It tries to understand fundamental principles and theories without application.
Those who will take the pure science are expected to join TTIs and TVCs, National polys, and universities to pursue a specialized area of study later.
Subject in pure science pathway
Core subjects
- Community Service Learning
- Physical Education
- ICT
Optional
The learner is required to select a minimum of three from the following subjects:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
Career prospect
Some of the expected career paths include
- University professor
- Pharmacologist
- Biotechnologist
- Geologist
- Meteorologist
- Data scientist
- Industrial Chemist
- Mathematician
- Food scientist
- Medical doctor
Applied science
It is a type of science that tries to use the learned concept to solve real-world problems, unlike pure science which concentrates on the theoretical parts.
Subjects in applied science
Core Subjects
- Community Service Learning
- Physical Education
- ICT
Optional
The learner is required to select one of the following subjects:
- Agriculture
- Computer Science
- Foods and Nutrition
- Home Management
Career prospect
The careers overlap with those in pure science but major in application concepts.
Technical and engineering
Technical and engineering is the pathway that will give instructions to learners on how to perform various technical and engineering operations.
The learners who follow this path can either later join TVET colleges or join accredited universities for further studies to become technologists and engineers.
Subjects in technical and engineering
Core Subjects
- Community Service Learning
- Physical Education
- ICT
- Mathematics
- Chemistry/Biological Sciences
- Physics/Biology/Physical Sciences
Optional
The learner is required to select one of the following subjects:
- Agricultural Technology
- Geosciences Technology
- Marine and Fisheries Technology
- Aviation Technology
- Wood Technology
- Electrical Technology
- Metal Technology
- Power Mechanics
- Clothing Technology
- Construction Technology
- Media Technology
- Electronics Technology
- Manufacturing Technology
- Mechatronics
Career pathway in technical and engineering
Career paths in technical and engineering route have some of the following opportunities
- Civil engineer
- Mechanical engineer
- Computer engineer
- Agricultural engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Technologist
Career and Technology Studies (CTS)
The pathway is meant for those who can join the workforce after senior school. It equips learners with artisan-level skills so that they can join the workforce in their respective fields or pursue further studies in TVET sector institutions.
Subjects in Career and technology studies
The subject includes
Core Subjects
- Community Service Learning
- Physical Education
- ICT
Optional
The learner is required to select one of the following subjects:
- Garment Making and Interior Design
- Leather Work
- Culinary Arts
- Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy
- Plumbing and Ceramics
- Welding and Fabrication
- Tourism and Travel
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Animal Keeping
- Exterior Design and Landscaping
- Building Construction
- Photography
- Graphic Designing and Animation
- Food and Beverage
- Motor Vehicle Mechanics
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Fire Fighting
- Metalwork
- Electricity
- Land Surveying
- Science Laboratory Technology
- Electronics
- Printing Technology
- Crop Production
The career and job opportunities in CTS
Different artisan occupations that the learner can join for a job include but are not limited to.
- Electrician
- Automotive Mechanic
- Plumber
- Firefighter
- Carpenter
- Salonist
- Waiter
- Chef
- Baker
- Tailor