The Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) is holding a three-day workshop for Meru County Secondary School Principals to induct them on handling grade 10 learners beginning next year.
This aligns with the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE), which is in high gear, with Grade nine learners expected to transition to senior school in 2026.
Speaking during the workshop, the County’s Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman, Karani Mbui, said the principals are expected to play key roles in the successful implementation of the curriculum and therefore, there is a need to enhance their handling of the transition successfully.
“We are waiting for the first batch of students next year for grade 10 and so the team from CEMASTEA is inducting us on what is expected and how it will be done.
We have already learnt that we shall have the learners classified into three: those that will take Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; and Sports and Arts,” said Mbui.
He said senior school will take all the students from junior schools, where 60 percent will take STEM, 25 percent social sciences and Arts and sports will take 15 percent.
“The training has just started and the process will continue throughout the year as we plan and wait for the students to join senior school. We are prepared because this workshop is part of what is supposed to be happening and the ministry is working to ensure that we will be ready for the students in terms of infrastructure once they come,” said Mbui.
By the end of the training, the Secondary School Principals will be able to describe the Basic Education Curriculum Framework for effective implementation of Competence-Based Education, explain components of the STEM Pathway, Tracks and Subjects and describe basic requirements for the provision of the STEM pathway in a school.
They are also expected to appreciate their role in spearheading the smooth transition of Grade nine learners into Senior School.
The training will be conducted in 50 centres distributed across the 47 counties, with the officers running the exercise including facilitators from CEMASTEA, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and County Trainers.
By Dickson Mwiti
