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The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has moved to clarify that under Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), mathematics will not be totally dropped at senior school level or Grade 10.
According to the agency’s chief executive officer, Charles Ong’ondo, mathematics will be a prerequisite for careers related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem), business studies and in sports science.
Prof Ong’ondo said that this, therefore, means that the majority of learners at senior school will select mathematics due to its essence in their careers.
Ultimately, he noted that the decision to study mathematics in humanities, languages and literature at senior school depends on the individual interests, career goals and aptitude for the subject.
“Some learners may find mathematics challenging or may prefer to focus on subjects that align more closely to their aspirations. In such a case, they can choose to prioritise other subjects over mathematics,” explained the KICD boss.
“While mathematics will be a prerequisite for a majority of careers and fostering interdisciplinary linkages, making it compulsory for learners in senior school will defeat the purpose for which the reforms were initiated. It will also be going against the focus of a pre-career stage and the global practices at this level. The tenets of CBC will not be wholly achieved,” he added.
He, however, explained that there are learners whose career goals may not really require mathematics as a compulsory subject but whose aptitude and interests align. Such learners will be allowed to choose the subject to provide a bridge between humanities and social sciences.
This will help in exploring connections between seemingly unrelated subjects as a way of fostering interdisciplinary studies.
“Mathematics as a selective subject at the pre-career stage is a global practice and not a new phenomenon to the Kenyan context. Senior school is conceptualised to serve as a pre-career stage with learners taking seven subjects,” he stated.
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