Grade 6 learners to do 12 compulsory subjects in junior secondary

Learners joining secondary schools in January will be pursuing 14 subjects out of which 12 subjects will be compulsory, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has announced.

In a new curriculum design, KICD indicated that the 14 subjects include English, Kiswahili, mathematics, integrated science, health education, pre-technical and pre-career, social studies, religious education, business studies, agriculture, life skills education, physical education/sports, and foreign languages.

The 12 core subjects which will be taught, include Mathematics, Kiswahili, English, Life Skills, Health Education, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Business Studies, Religious Education, Agriculture, as well as Sports and Physical Education.

Optional subjects provided to learners include at least one and utmost two subjects from the following; Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Home Science, Computer Science, Foreign Languages-German, French, Mandarin, Arabic, Kenya Sign Language and Indigenous Languages.

According to KICD, Pre-technical and pre-career studies is a subject that helps the learner prepare for technical and engineering studies, and career and technology studies.

“This will equip the learner with foundational knowledge, that is a prerequisite to specialise in subjects such as metalwork, woodwork, electricity, aviation technology, building construction, power mechanics, leatherwork, culinary arts, hairdressing and beauty therapy, marine and fisheries, manufacturing and media technology at senior school,” the curriculum design reads.

The curriculum developer indicated that the students will undertake 45 lessons per week, which will be taught for a 40 -minute duration each.

According to KICD, English, and mathematics will have the highest number of hours with each subject having five slots every week.

Integrated Science i.e Biology, Chemistry, and Physics will be taught four times a week alongside Kiswahili.

Business studies, social studies, and agriculture will be taught thrice per week. Religious education, health education and PE/Sports will be taught twice per week while life skills will be taught once a week.