ZoeziZone Learning workspace

Senior School pathways

A parent's guide to the choice after Grade 9, under Kenya's Competency-Based Education.

How placement works

  • In Grade 9 every learner selects preferred pathways and subjects.
  • Placement uses the KJSEA examination at the end of Grade 9 together with school-based assessments from Grades 7 and 8.
  • Each senior school offers particular subject combinations, so places also depend on what nearby schools teach and their capacity.
  • About six in ten senior-school places are in STEM.

What every learner takes

Four examinable subjects are compulsory in every pathway, with physical education and ICT running alongside:

  • English
  • Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language — KSL takes Kiswahili's place at schools that offer it
  • Mathematics — taken in every pathway; STEM studies it in greater depth
  • Community Service Learning — a real community project with a portfolio, guided by your school
  • Physical Education — compulsory for everyone, not nationally examined
  • ICT — woven into every pathway, not nationally examined

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

For learners who love finding out how things work: experiments, numbers, machines, computers and living things. Most senior-school places are in STEM.

Pure Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Mathematics (where offered).

Applied Sciences: Agriculture, Computer Studies, Home Science.

Technical Studies: Drawing and Design (where offered), Building and Construction (where offered), Electrical Technology (where offered), Metal Technology (where offered), Power Mechanics (where offered), Wood Technology (where offered), Aviation Technology (where offered), Marine and Fisheries Technology (where offered), Media Technology (where offered).

Where it can lead: Doctor or nurse, Engineer, Software developer, Agronomist, Pilot, Laboratory scientist.

Social Sciences

Humanities, Business Studies, Languages and Literature

For learners drawn to people, ideas, stories and trade: history, geography, faiths, languages, books and business.

Humanities and Business Studies: History and Citizenship, Citizenship, Geography, Business Studies, Christian Religious Education (where offered), Islamic Religious Education (where offered), Hindu Religious Education.

Languages and Literature: Literature in English, Fasihi ya Kiswahili, French, German, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese (where offered), Indigenous Languages, Kenyan Sign Language (where offered).

Where it can lead: Lawyer, Journalist, Economist or accountant, Diplomat, Teacher, Entrepreneur.

Arts and Sports Science

Performing arts, visual arts and sports science

For learners who come alive making and performing: music, theatre, film, art and design, and serious sport.

Arts: Fine Arts, Music and Dance, Theatre and Film.

Sports Science: Sports and Recreation.

Where it can lead: Musician or producer, Filmmaker, Designer or animator, Professional athlete, Coach or sports scientist, Curator or art teacher.

Deciding together

A pathway snapshot in this app is a conversation starter for the learner, their family and their teachers. It is not a prediction and it is not placement advice.

In the ZoeziZone app, a learner in Grade 8 or 9 can open the pathways guide from their subjects card — it shows what their own practice says about each pathway, and a short interest check-in, made to be talked over as a family.