Education Secretary Belio Kipsang has declared the government’s decision to abolish the national categorization of schools. Speaking at the Inaugural Annual Symposium on Competency-Based Assessment, Kipsang highlighted this move as a pivotal strategy to implement the new curriculum effectively.
“We are moving away from the traditional categorization of secondary schools and transitioning towards a more dynamic system based on educational pathways,” stated Kipsang during the symposium. “Secondary schools will soon be categorized according to the pathways they will offer.”
Under the phased-out 8-4-4 system, secondary schools will now be known as senior schools, welcoming pupils from Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). The new categorization will be based on the subjects offered by each institution, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centres, Humanities and Arts Schools, and Creative Arts and Sports Schools.
The classification of senior schools will be heavily influenced by the resources and infrastructure available, with national schools expected to provide a diverse range of subjects due to their abundant resources. Conversely, sub-county schools may offer a more limited selection of subjects due to resource constraints.
Students will now complete a three-year program in senior school before progressing to higher education based on their interests and academic achievements, signaling a significant shift towards personalized education pathways in the country.
