A group of Kenyan scholars has penned a letter to President William Ruto over the Ministry of Education’s recent decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject in senior secondary schools under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The Commonwealth Scholarships Alumni Association of Kenya (CSAAK) highlighted that only English or Kenyan Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning will remain mandatory subjects under this new policy.
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According to CSAAK, this represents a significant departure from the long-standing 8-4-4 education system, where Mathematics was a core subject alongside English, Kiswahili, and at least two sciences.
The Ministry of Education justified this shift by arguing that Mathematics from Grade 4 to Grade 9 provides sufficient foundational numeracy skills and that advanced proficiency is unnecessary unless a student specifically chooses a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-related career.
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Additionally, concerns about poor performance in Mathematics at the KCSE level, where 72% of students scored a D or below, have been cited as a reason for removing it as a requirement to avoid lowering overall student grades and limiting their future career opportunities.
Letter to Ruto Over Move to Scrap Mathematics
While acknowledging the need to support students in excelling in their chosen fields, CSAAK expressed its firm believe that removing Mathematics as a core subject is a ‘short-sighted decision” that will have negative long-term consequences for both individuals and the nation.
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“Mathematics is not only the foundation of STEM careers but also a crucial discipline for a wide range of fields, including business, law, finance, the creative arts, and social sciences,” read part of the letter.
“More importantly, it is a life skill that enables to develop logical reasoning, problem-solving activities and data literacy which are essential; skills for success in today’s fast-changing world.”
Also Read: Govt Drops Maths from List of Compulsory Subjects
They went on to cite research from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, that shows that a lack of mathematical education negatively impacts cognitive development, academic progress, and even long-term financial stability.
The scholars emphasized that the removal of Mathematics as a core subject risks creating a generation of students unprepared for a rapidly evolving job market where numeracy skills are increasingly valuable.
They mentioned that it is well established that students’ career aspirations evolve over time, and some change their career goals based on new interests, emerging job markets, or personal experiences.
“By removing Mathematics as a mandatory subject, we limit students’ flexibility and future opportunities by prematurely narrowing their academic foundation,” the letter read further.
“A student who initially chooses a non-STEM pathway may later realize that careers in finance, data science, economics, or even psychology require strong mathematical skills.”
Also Read: Graduate With Masters in Pure Mathematics Begs for Job in Nairobi Streets
Why Mathematics Should Not Be Scrapped
The scholars stated that if Mathematics is no longer part of their core education, these students will face significant challenges should they decide to transition into fields that require quantitative reasoning.
Additionally, they raised concern that beyond the digital economy, Mathematics is essential for national workforce development.
“Kenya already faces a “brain drain” in key sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and technology, with thousands of skilled professionals migrating abroad due to limited job opportunities,” the letter read.
“If we fail to build a robust pipeline of STEM talent, we risk creating further skill shortages that will weaken Kenya’s ability to innovate and compete internationally.”
The scholars want the ministry to reinstate Mathematics as a core subject in secondary schools across all educational pathways and develop strategic interventions to improve Mathematics proficiency, rather than eliminating it as a core subject.
They also want MoE to convene a multi-stakeholder forum involving education experts, economic planners, and industry leaders to align Kenya’s education policies with international best practices.
“Align education policies with Kenya’s long-term economic and technological goals. Ensure students have the flexibility to adapt to changing career aspirations by maintaining a broad and well-rounded curriculum.”
Mathematics is not just for scientists and engineers or those in STEM, it is a fundamental skill that empowers all students, regardless of their career paths.
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