28/12/2025
*EXPLAINED: Number of Subjects to Be Taught in Senior Schools and Weekly Lesson Hours* [Full List]
As Grade 10 learners prepare to join senior schools in January 2026, following the pathways they selected, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has published a comprehensive list of subjects to be taught at the senior school level.
This cohort was the first to sit the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and is also the first group of Grade 10 learners under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Senior School, which comprises Grades 10, 11, and 12, is structured around three pathways:
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Arts and Sports Science
Social Sciences
According to KICD, the purpose of senior school is to provide learners with a pre-tertiary, pre-university, and pre-career experience, allowing them to select subjects based on demonstrated interest, aptitude, and potential at earlier levels.
*List of Subjects and Weekly Lesson Hours*
Senior School runs for three years and generally caters to learners aged 15 to 17 years.
At this level, learners will take seven learning areas, as recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Educational Reforms (PWPER, 2023). These include four core subjects, namely:
English
Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language (KSL)
Mathematics (Core or Essential)
Community Service Learning (CSL)
Learners pursuing the STEM pathway will take Core Mathematics, while those in non-STEM pathways will take Essential Mathematics, which focuses on utilitarian skills.
In addition, learners will select three elective subjects based on their career interests, personality, and aptitude, with guidance from a career teacher.
*List of Subjects at Senior School*
*Core Subjects*
1 English
2 Kiswahihi/Kenya Sign Language.
3 Core Mathematics/
4 Essential Mathematics
5 Community Service Learning (CSL)
*Arts & Sports Science*
1 Sports and Recreation
2 Music and Dance
3 Theatre and Film
4 Fin
