Below is a list of subjects taught in CBC Grade 1 to 12, PP1 and PP2 in Kenya’s new 2-6-3-3 system of education. learn more about Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

CBC Levels of Education

Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya is divided into three levels of education.  That is ;

1. Early  Years  Education (Pre-Primary and Lower Primary)
2. Middle School Education (Upper Primary and Junior Secondary)
3. Senior School

UPDATE: The Ministry of Education reduced subjects taught in Lower grades 1, 2, 3,4, 5., 6, 7, 8 and 9. We have updated the new subjects on this page.

Pre-Primary Subjects  (Pp1 and Pp2)

Subjects taught at this level include:

• Language Activities
• Mathematical Activities
• Environmental Activities
• Psychomotor and Creative Activities
• Religious Education Activities
• Pre Braille Activities

Lower Primary Subjects (Grade 1, 2, 3)

Subjects taught at lower primary include:

• Literacy Activities or Braille Literacy Activities
• Kiswahili Language Activities or Kenya Sign Language (for deaf learners)
• English Language Activities
• Mathematical Activities
• Environmental Activities
• Hygiene and Nutrition Activities
• Religious Education Activities
• Movement and Creative Activities

Upper Primary Subjects (Grade 4, 5, 6)

Upper primary is part of middle school. Upper primary has Grade 4, 5, 6. Subjects taught in upper primary include:

•  English
• Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language
• Home Science
• Agriculture
• Science and Technology
• Mathematics
• Religious Education (CRE or IRE or HRE)
• Creative Arts
• Physical and Health Education
• Social Studies

Optional subjects taught in upper primary include;

Foreign Languages (Arabic, French, German, Mandarin)

• Indigenous languages
• Kenyan Sign Language
• Braille literacy

NB: ICT should be included in all learning areas. There should also be pastoral program once in a week.

Junior Secondary Subjects (Grade 7, 8, 9)

Junior Secondary is part of middle school. Junior Secondary comprises of Grade 7, 8, 9.  There are core and optional subjects in Grade 7, 8, and 9.  Core subjects are mandatory and they include:

• English
• Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language
• Mathematics
• Integrated Science
• Health Education
• Pre-Technical and Pre-Career Education
• Social Studies
• Religious Education
• Business Studies
• Agriculture
• Life Skills
• Sports and Physical Education

Optional Subjects

Learners should do a minimum of one and maximum of two optional subjects which include:

• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• Home Science
• Computer Science
• Foreign Languages (German, French, Mandarin, or Arabic)
• Kenyan Sign Language
• Indigenous Languages

Senior School Subjects (Grade 10, 11, 12)

Senior School comprises of Grade 10, 11 and 12. In senior school, students have to select one pathway that they want to specialize in from the three that have been listed below.  Each pathway has its own subjects that we will also list.  The three Pathways include:

1. Arts and Sports Science
2. Social Sciences
3. Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

1) Art and Sport Science Pathway Subjects

This pathway has Core and Optional Subjects. Core subjects are mandatory to students that have selected the pathway and a minimum of one and maximum of two optional subjects in Arts and Sport Science:

Arts Core subjects

• Legal and Ethical issues in Arts
• Communication Skills

Arts Optional Subjects

• Performing Arts
• Music
• Dance
• Theatre and Elocution
• Fine Art
• Applied Art
• Time Based Media
• Crafts

Sports Science Core subjects

• Human Physiology, Anatomy and Nutrition
• Sports Ethics

Sports Science Optional Subjects

• Athletics
•  Indoor Games
• Gymnastics
• water Sports
• Boxing
• Martial Arts
• Outdoor Pursuits
• Advanced Physical Education

2) Social Sciences Pathway Subjects

Students who have selected the Social Sciences pathway are required to do a minimum of  3 and maximum of 5  subjects. The Subjects include:

Humanities

• History and Citizenship
• Geography
• Christian Religious Education
• Islamic Religious Education
• Hindu Religious Education
• Business Studies
• Mathematics

Languages

• English Language
• Literature in English
• Lugha ya Kiswahili
• Fasihi ya Kiswahili
• Kenyan Sign Language
• Indigenous Languages
• Arabic
• French
• German
• Mandarin

Business Studies

3) Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Subjects

This pathway is divided into four tracks which include:

1. Pure sciences
2. Applied sciences
3. Technical and engineering
4. Career in Technology Studies

 Each track (learning category) has core and optional subjects.

a) Pure sciences

Core Subjects include:

• Community Service Learning
• Physical Education
• ICT

Optional Subjects include:

Learners are required to select a minimum of 3 from the 4:

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology

b) Applied sciences

Core Subjects include;

• Community Service Learning
• Physical Education
• ICT

Optional  Subjects include;

Students are required to select one subject only:

• Agriculture
• Computer Science
• Foods and Nutrition
• Home Management

c) Technical and engineering

Core Subjects  include:

• Community Service Learning
• Physical Education
• ICT
• Mathematics
• Chemistry or Biological Sciences
• Physics or Biology or Physical Sciences

Optional Subjects:

Students are required to select one:

• Agricultural Technology
• Geosciences Technology
• Marine and Fisheries Technology
• Aviation Technology
• Wood Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Metal Technology
• Power Mechanics
• Clothing Technology
• Construction Technology
• Media Technology
• Electronics Technology
• Manufacturing Technology
• Mechatronic

d) Career in Technology Studies

Core Subjects:

• Community Service Learning
• Physical Education
• ICT

Optional Subjects include:

Students should select one optional subject;

• Garment Making and Interior Design
• Leather Work
• Culinary Arts
• Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy
• Plumbing and Ceramics
• Welding and Fabrication
• Tourism and Travel
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Animal Keeping
• Exterior Design and Landscaping
• Building Construction
• Photography
• Graphic Designing and Animation
• Food and Beverage
• Motor Vehicle Mechanics
• Carpentry and Joinery
• Fire Fighting
• Metalwork
• Electricity
• Land Surveying
• Science Laboratory Technology
• Electronics
• Printing Technology
• Crop Production

NOTE 2: Schools should teach subjects that their infrastructure can support.

NOTE 2: Irrespective  of the pathway  a senior school student selects, he or she must do Community Service Learning  and Physical Education. They are core subjects in senior school for all pathways.