The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued new guidelines to schools as the registration of Grade 10 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) continues.
The council has directed school principals to ensure that all Grade 10 learners are registered accurately on the School-Based Assessment (SBA) portal before the July 30 deadline.
According to KNEC, the subject choices submitted during registration will determine learner placement, classroom instruction, and future assessment processes, making accuracy and compliance with the approved guidelines essential.
“Subject choices registered will form the basis for learner placement, instruction, and subsequent assessment processes; therefore, schools must ensure accuracy and compliance with the prescribed guidelines,” KNEC stated.
Schools have been instructed to register learners based on their confirmed career pathways and selected subject combinations. The council also emphasised that all combinations must align with the approved Senior School curriculum and the pathways offered by individual institutions.
KNEC clarified that learners who select General Science will not be allowed to register for Biology, Physics, or Chemistry as separate subjects.
The council also provided guidance on mathematics requirements depending on learners’ chosen pathways and science subjects.
Students taking two or three pure science subjects will be required to study Core Mathematics instead of Essential Mathematics. However, learners pursuing Applied Sciences, Technical and Engineering, Social Sciences, Arts, or Sports pathways will have the option of choosing either Core Mathematics or Essential Mathematics.
In religious education, KNEC directed that learners can only select one subject from the available options, including Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE), or Hindu Religious Education (HRE).
The council further outlined rules regarding sign language studies. Kenya Sign Language will only be available to learners with hearing impairment, who will not be permitted to take Kiswahili or Fasihi ya Kiswahili.
Learners without hearing impairment may take Sign Language Skills but will not be allowed to register for Kenya Sign Language.
KNEC has urged schools to follow the issued guidelines carefully to ensure a smooth registration process and prevent errors that could affect learner placement, teaching arrangements, and future assessments.