Junior Secondary learners to study 14 subjects – KICD directs
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, KICD, has given the final guidelines for Junior Secondary Schools curriculum. Learners joining Junior Secondary school at grade 7 to 9 will do 14 subjects with 12 being compulsory.
According to KICD design for Grade 7, the learners will take 45 lessons a week with each lesson covering a 40 minutes duration.
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, foreign languages (German, French and Mandarin), will be introduced alongside indigenous language as an optional subject.
Other optional subjects will include performing/visual arts and computer science.
English, mathematics and social studies have been allocated the highest number of hours with each having five subjects each week.
Pre-technical and pre-career studies is a subject that prepares the learner for technical and engineering and career and technology studies which are tracks in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pathway.
“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.
Integrated Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and Kiswahili will be covered four times a week, Social Studies, Business and agriculture allocated with three subjects weekly.
Religious Education, Health Education, and PE/sports will have two periods every week while life skills will only have one subject per week.
The learners will join grade 7 at their current primary schools but will be taught by graduate teachers.
