Kenya’s Grade 9 Learners Begin Senior School Selection Under New Guidelines

Kenya is on the cusp of a significant educational transformation as approximately 1.2 million Grade 9 students begin selecting their preferred career pathways. 

This initiative is designed to tailor education to students' individual interests, aptitudes, and future career aspirations as they prepare for senior school next year.

The Ministry of Education has established a structured selection process, guiding learners through three distinct career pathways: Social Sciences, Arts and Sports, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). While specialisation is encouraged, Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, and Community Service Learning will remain compulsory subjects across all pathways, ensuring a foundational level of knowledge for all students.

To streamline this transition, the government has launched an automated system facilitating the selection of career pathways, subject combinations, and senior schools. Public senior schools are mandated to upload the subject combinations they will offer in 2026, enabling Grade 9 learners to make informed decisions. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has underscored the importance of this process, directing junior schools to guide students through the selection process using the designated platform: selection.education.go.ke.

A comprehensive circular has been issued to regional, county, and sub-county education directors, detailing a step-by-step procedure for both junior and senior schools. Senior school principals are required to log into the system using their institution's Unique Identification Code (UIC), declare their Grade 10 capacity, and select subject combinations for a minimum of two pathways, with STEM being mandatory. Each subject combination must accommodate at least 15 learners. 

The Sub-County Director of Education will review and either approve or reject the subject combinations, providing schools with the opportunity to revise their selections if necessary. Junior school headteachers will use their UIC credentials to access a list of Grade 9 learners and update each student's profile. They will then select a career pathway and choose three subject combinations, each linked to four schools across different clusters, resulting in 12 school selections per learner. 

Special needs students may select fewer schools, prioritising institutions that cater specifically to their requirements, including integrated or special needs schools.

The selection process is scheduled to run from June 9 to June 30, 2025, with education officials providing support throughout. Upon entering senior school, students will study seven subjects, including the four compulsory core subjects. These are designed to equip learners with essential 21st-century skills while adhering to national and global educational standards.

Placement into senior schools will be determined by career choices, academic performance, and school selection. Each student will select four schools for their first-choice pathway, four for their second, and four for their third. Of the 12 selected schools, nine must be boarding institutions, with three located in the learner's home county and six in other regions.

Schools will be categorised based on the pathways they offer. Triple Pathway Schools will provide all three career options, while Dual Pathway Schools will offer STEM alongside either Social Sciences or Arts and Sports Science. To facilitate a smooth transition, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has trained more than 9,000 principals on career pathways, equipping them with the tools to guide students effectively.

Outgoing TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia has urged school leaders to ensure that learners are placed in environments that nurture their academic potential, interests, and talents. She emphasises that senior school is a critical pre-career phase where students make informed decisions about their future based on their strengths and aspirations.