Categorization of Schools As National Ends, New Categorization Unveiled

End to Categorization of Schools as National. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang made a significant announcement on Thursday, April 25, declaring the government’s decision to eliminate school categorization at the national level.

This move is part of the implementation strategy for the new curriculum, as discussed during the Inaugural Annual Symposium on Competency-Based Assessment.

Under the current 8-4-4 system, secondary schools are classified as national, extra-county, county, or sub-county, but this system is being phased out. Kipsang highlighted the plan to convene stakeholder engagements on pathways and pathway placement in Senior Schools.

He noted that secondary schools will soon be categorized based on the pathways they offer, with the redesignation of these schools as senior schools and the enrollment of students from Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

The future classification of senior schools will be determined by the combination of subjects they provide, with streams including STEM Centers, Humanities and Arts Schools, and Creative Arts and Sports Schools.

The allocation of resources and infrastructure at each academic institution will significantly influence their classification. National schools, typically endowed with extensive resources like libraries, laboratories, and recreational facilities, are poised to offer a blend of all three streams.

Conversely, sub-county schools, constrained by limited resources, may be unable to offer more than one subject combination.

In other educational updates, Kenya plans to revamp its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to meet the evolving demands of the labor market. Additionally, students will now spend three years in senior school before progressing to university or college, depending on their interests and academic performance.

This change aims to provide students with increased flexibility and diverse pathways as they prepare for higher education and future careers.