The list of Senior School Grade 10 subjects under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) requires each learner to take seven subjects: four compulsory and three chosen options aligned to the learner’s pathway and career interests. This guide summarises the subject options, pathways (STEM, Arts & Sports Science, Social Sciences), lesson distribution and practical guidance for schools and parents.
Key Takeaways
- All learners take four compulsory areas: English, Kiswahili, Core/Essential Mathematics and Community Service Learning (CSL).
- Learners choose three additional subjects, advised to take at least two from their chosen pathway.
- Subjects are grouped into three pathways: STEM, Arts & Sports Science and Social Sciences.
- Weekly lesson allocation totals 40 lessons (40 minutes each), with clear minimums for core and optional subjects.
Senior School Grade 10 subjects — Overview
Senior School (Grades 10–12) is the fourth level of basic education in the CBC and prepares learners for tertiary education or direct entry to careers. Students generally aged 15–17 will study seven subjects: three core compulsory subjects taken by all, plus a pathway-dependent mathematics course and three optional subjects selected with guidance.
Compulsory subjects
- English — language and communication skills for academic and workplace contexts.
- Kiswahili/KSL — national language competence; Kenyan Sign Language where applicable.
- Core Mathematics (for STEM pathway) or Essential Mathematics (for Arts and Social Science pathways). Schools may allow learners outside STEM to take Core Mathematics based on Junior School assessments.
- Community Service Learning (CSL) — practical civic engagement and life skills development.
Subject pathways and optional subjects
Students choose a pathway and then select three optional subjects. It is recommended that at least two of the three options come from the chosen pathway, but cross-pathway selection is allowed if the learner’s career plan requires it.
Arts & Sports Science includes:
- Sports and Recreation
- Music and Dance
- Theatre and Film
- Fine Arts
- Literature in English
- Indigenous Languages
- Fasihi ya Kiswahili
- Sign Language
- Arabic, French, German, Mandarin Chinese
- Religious Studies (Christian, Islamic, Hindu)
Social Sciences includes:
- Business Studies
- History and Citizenship
- Geography
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) includes:
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science
- Agriculture
- Computer Studies
- Home Science
- Aviation, Building Construction, Electricity, Metalwork, Power Mechanics, Woodwork
- Media Technology, Marine and Fisheries Technology
Lesson distribution (weekly)
The recommended weekly lessons are designed to add up to 40 lessons of 40 minutes each. These are minimums to help schools plan timetables:
- English: 5 lessons
- Kiswahili: 5 lessons
- Core/Essential Mathematics: 5 lessons
- Community Service Learning (CSL): 3 lessons
- Optional subjects (each): 3 lessons for Optional 1, Optional 2 and Optional 3
- Physical Education (PE): 3 lessons (offered to all learners)
- ICT Skills: 2 lessons (offered to all learners)
- Learner personal/group study: 1 lesson
- Pastoral/Religious Programme Instruction: 1 lesson
- Total: 40 lessons per week
Implementation notes and guidance for schools
- Schools must offer PE and ICT to all learners to support life skills and digital competence.
- Every school shall run a Pastoral/Religious Programme of Instruction to support moral and character development. Participation in religious rites must respect each learner’s beliefs; learners cannot be forced into activities contrary to their faith.
- Subject choices should be guided by the learner’s career goals, aptitude, interest and personality, with leadership support from the senior school administration.
- Where a learner’s career plan requires subjects across different pathways, cross-pathway choices should be permitted.
- Departments of TVET and Higher Education are expected to align their courses in preparation for the first CBC cohort entering tertiary education.
Resources and curriculum materials
Curriculum designs for Senior School subjects are available and schools should use approved course materials and lesson plans. For downloadable curriculum designs and teaching notes, see the Grade 10 and senior-school resources:
- Free Grade 10 curriculum designs — curriculum documents for each subject.
- Senior school curriculum designs — full set for Grades 10–12.
- Free CBC curriculum designs — broader CBC resource library.
- Free CBC lesson plans — sample lesson plans to support classroom delivery.
Use these resources to plan subject combinations, timetables and to prepare learners for assessment and progression. Schools should communicate pathway options clearly to learners and parents and provide career guidance to support informed subject selection.
