16/12/2025
Should you change your child's pathway after the KJSEA Results?
This is one of the most recurring question in parent's minds right now and in my dm.
And it's a complex question with no straight "yes" or "no" answer.
Next year's grade 10 parents have been with CBE for the last 9 years.
We are now at a critical time where the CBE becomes pre-career in focus.
The way I understand it, CBE is a hands on education system and parents have been active participants in the education process.
Up to now, you should be having a solid understanding of who your child is based on what you have observed in the last 9 years, both within the school setting and home environment.
The pathways are designed to align with the learner's strengths, interests, and demonstrated competencies.
Do you know your child's interests?
What are your child's strengths?
Over time, what competencies has your child shown in the performance of various tasks?
You cannot just use the KJSEA result report and place a learner in a particular pathway based on performance.
The learner's journey through the last 9 years is critical.
Where are we now?
The learner's have already been placed in pathways, based on their selection.
Some learners found themselves in pathways they hadn't selected.
What should you consider before changing a learner's pathway?
1) Involve the child
The child's strengths, interests, aptitude and ability take priority.
It's up to you to guide your child appropriately so that they can make a sober decision.
The learner's pathway should ideally be based on their natural talents, passions, and aptitude as assessed over time.
The child is expected to take ownership of their learning and have a clear voice in choosing their direction, especially as they enter Senior School
2) Understand that your role as a parent is collaborative and informing
Parents have a crucial and active role, but it's typically one of guidance, support, and collaboration with the school, rather than making decisions on their own.
Parents are expected to monitor their child's progress over time, discuss their strengths and challenges, and reinforce learning at home.
Parents can initiate the conversation if they observe a significant mismatch between the learner's current pathway and their real world skills or evolving interests.
3) Evolving interests
Children are like flowers. They bloom in different ways as they experience different environments.
If the parent notices evolving interests, a discussion about change of pathways might be necessary.
Maybe the learner's passions have changed since the last selection.
Maybe the learner has developed a new skill or talent that wasn't there during the initial selection after being placed in a new environment eg a club, a project, a new school that offers a broader curriculum etc
What have we said in a nutshell?
Only change the pathway if doing so is in the learner's best interests.
Only do so after collaborating with the learner and the teachers.
Only do so after taking into account the primary evidence which is the learner's performance data and demonstrated skills and interests over the past 9 years.
Point to note.
Any information about changing pathways and schools will be availed to us during placement which will happen next week.
