Can a Grade 10 Learner Change Their CBC Pathway? What Parents Need to Know

As Grade 9 learners transition to Senior School under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), parents and learners may consider changing a selected Grade 10 pathway, subject combination, or school during the placement process.

According to the Ministry, learners are allowed to choose their preferred pathway, subject combination, and Senior School before the selections are submitted through the official Grade 10 Selection and Placement System.

The official system placement exercise is based on three approved pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; and Arts and Sports.

On September 8, the Ministry reduced the number of schools learners can select from twelve to eight during the ongoing Grade 10 placement process.

School preference, career interests, and academic achievement will determine the placement of Grade 10 learners.

Placement will also be based on cumulative assessment scores from Grades 6, 7, and 9, and performance in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

Also Read: CBC Pathways and Careers: What Every Grade 10 Learner Can Pursue After Senior School

What Grade 10 Learners Can Change Before Submission

Grade 10 placement follows the pathway selected by the learner, the subject combination available within that pathway, and the Senior School offering the subject combination.

Under the placement guidelines, schools must verify learners’ details before making selections in the system.

Learners who prefer STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports need to consider the specific subject combination available rather than selecting the pathway alone.

Before submission, the selection system allows the learner’s school to confirm the learner’s details, choose a pathway, select an available subject combination, and identify preferred Senior Schools.

“CBC provides for flexible education pathways for identifying and nurturing the talents and interests of learners early enough to prepare them for a suitable career path and the world of work for sustainable development,” the ICD Strategic Plan states.

Parents have been advised to review the selected options before submission, with education officials emphasizing that learners should not choose a pathway in isolation.

What Happens After Grade 10 Selections Are Submitted

If an error is discovered after submission, parents are urged to seek assistance through the learner’s school or the Ministry’s designated support channels rather than making a new selection independently.

Once placement information becomes available, parents should confirm what the learner has actually been placed to study and the institution of study.

Additionally, parents should also verify whether the placement matches the learner’s preferred area of study and the subject combination.

Also Read: Which CBC Pathway Offers the Most Career Options? What Grade 10 Learners Should Know

Requests to Change Pathways

The Ministry further explained that changing a pathway is different from correcting personal details or adjusting school preferences.

According to the Ministry, subject combinations are tied to pathways; moving from one pathway to another can affect the subjects a learner is eligible to pursue and the schools that can accommodate the new choice.

Under the official selection system, a pathway must be chosen first before the learner selects a corresponding subject combination and preferred schools.

Parents considering a pathway change are therefore advised to first identify the desired pathway, the required subject combination, and the Senior Schools that offer the combination before initiating the request through the approved placement process.

Alternatively, parents can use the Ministry’s official support desk at +254 203 318 581 for clarification on individual placement issues.

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