Ministry Of Education Reduces Subjects For Lower Primary And Upper Primary

The Ministry Of Education has reduced the number of learning subjects for Lower Primary, Upper Primary, and Junior Secondary students. 

In a letter to all Regional, County, and Sub County Directors of Education dated December 20, the Ministry of Education the changes are in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER) on the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).  

The Ministry reduced learning areas for students in Lower Primary (Grades 1-3) to seven from the current nine.

The number of lessons has been reduced from 35 to 31 per week including Pastoral Programme of Instruction (PPI).

According to the Ministry, Hygiene and Nutrition Activities learning areas to be integrated within Environmental Activities while Creative Arts will comprise aspects of Art, Craft, Music, and Physical Education.

In Upper Primary (Grades 4-6) the Ministry reduced learning areas from ten to eight and reduced the number of lessons from forty to thirty-five per week.

The Ministry noted that Agriculture has been integrated with aspects of Home Science into one composite subject referred to as Agriculture and Nutrition whereas Creative Arts will comprise aspects of Art & Craft, Music, and Physical Education.

“Other Languages (Indigenous Language and Foreign Languages) to be implemented as non-formal (co-curricular) programs,” the letter read in part.

In Junior Secondary the number of learning areas has been reduced from fourteen to nine. With the number of lessons being reduced from forty-five to forty per week.

The Ministry pointed out that all nine core subjects will be mandatory for all Junior Secondary learners.

Integrated Science and Health Education have been combined into one learning area referred to as Integrated Science.

Social Studies and Life Skills Education have been integrated into one learning area called Social Studies while Agriculture and aspects of Home Science have been merged into one composite subject referred to as Agriculture and Nutrition with four lessons per week.

Pre-technical Studies, Computer Studies, and Business Studies have been integrated into one composite subject referred to as Pre-Technical Studies while Physical Education and Sports, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts have been integrated into one composite subject referred to as Creative Arts and Sports.