Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has urged universities to begin early preparations for the first cohort of learners under the Competency-Based Education system, who are expected to transition to higher education in 2029.
Speaking on Wednesday during the 14th Graduation Ceremony of Kisii University in Kisii County, Ogamba called on institutions of higher learning to work closely with the Commission for University Education (CUE) to develop programmes aligned with CBE.
The move, he said, is critical ahead of the admission of an estimated 1,130,459 candidates expected to sit the Kenya Senior Secondary Education Assessment in 2028.
“As an act of strategic forward thinking, our universities, like this one, should adequately anticipate and prepare for this transition,” Ogamba said.
He noted that the ministry has already developed a draft national implementation roadmap to guide the shift, including plans to retool university staff to effectively deliver CBE-aligned programmes.
“We’ve already achieved key milestones such as the alignment of teacher education programmes with the Competency-Based Education framework, and we will continue to build the capacity of university staff on the Competency-Based Education,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary further urged universities to embrace creativity, innovation and diversification of income streams to enhance self-sustenance, while aligning training with the demands of a rapidly evolving, technology-driven job market.
“This way, the potential to build and consolidate fruitful partnerships, both locally and abroad, will grow, thereby assisting universities to mobilise resources,” Ogamba said.
During the ceremony, a total of 4,018 students graduated with various qualifications across a wide range of disciplines.
Kisii University Council chairperson and acting chancellor Dr Sarah Ruto challenged the graduates to cultivate a mindset of continuous learning as they transition into the job market, noting that modern employment demands adaptability and lifelong skills development in line with the CBE philosophy.
Meanwhile, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that the results of the Grade 10 placement exercise will be released by Friday, December 19.
The announcement follows the completion of the release of the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) results last week by Ogamba.
Bitok said the process of matching learners to appropriate senior schools, based on their choices and KJSEA performance, will be concluded by Friday.
“I’m happy to note that from Friday this week, learners will be able to know which schools and pathways they have been placed in,” he said while addressing the 65th Annual Delegates Conference of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
To access placement details, learners will be required to send an SMS indicating their Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) assessment number to 22263.
Under the CBE system, students in Senior School, covering Grades 10 to 12, will pursue studies under three main pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; and Arts and Sports Science.
The structure allows learners to specialise in areas such as engineering, business, humanities, fine arts or sports, based on aptitude and interest.
by EMMANUEL WANJALA
