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Kenyan System

The vision of the basic education curriculum reforms is to enable every Kenyan to become an engaged, empowered and ethical citizen. This will be achieved by providing every Kenyan learner with world class standards in the skills and knowledge that they deserve, and which they need in order to thrive in the 21st century. This shall be accomplished through the provision of excellent teaching, school environments and resources and a sustainable visionary curriculum that provides every learner with seamless, competency based high quality learning that values every learner.
Source: Kenyayote

The 2-6-6-3 Curriculum and Homeschooling in Kenya

The 2-6-6-3 curriculum is Kenya’s new education system, designed to replace the 8-4-4 structure. It focuses on competency-based learning, emphasizing skills and talents over rote memorization. For families practicing homeschooling in Kenya, this shift offers flexibility to tailor education to a child’s unique abilities. Parents can incorporate practical skills, such as coding or agriculture, aligning with the 2-6-6-3 model while ensuring personalized learning.

Under the 2-6-6-3 system, education is divided into four levels: Pre-Primary (2 years), Primary (6 years), Junior Secondary (6 years), and Senior Secondary (3 years). Homeschooling in Kenya allows parents to adapt this structure creatively, blending formal subjects with hands-on experiences. For example, a homeschooled child can explore entrepreneurship or arts at the junior secondary level, mirroring the curriculum’s focus on talent development.

One key feature of the 2-6-6-3 curriculum is continuous assessment rather than heavy reliance on exams. This approach benefits homeschooling in Kenya, where parents can track progress through projects, portfolios, and real-world applications. Without the pressure of national exams at every stage, homeschoolers can thrive in a stress-free environment while still meeting competency benchmarks.

Despite its advantages, the 2-6-6-3 curriculum poses challenges for homeschooling in Kenya, such as limited access to approved learning materials. However, with the rise of digital resources and homeschooling networks, parents can find creative ways to align with the system. Online platforms and local co-ops provide support, ensuring Kenyan homeschoolers remain compliant with national standards.

In conclusion, the 2-6-6-3 curriculum presents an opportunity for homeschooling in Kenya to flourish. By embracing its competency-based approach, parents can nurture well-rounded, skilled learners outside traditional classrooms. As Kenya’s education landscape evolves, homeschooling families are proving that innovative, child-centered education is possible.

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Curriculum Levels

All learners are expected to begin their education at this level. It is a two year programme.

The learners from pre-primary 2 will join lower primary in grade 1 at about 6 years of age and spend 3 years in this part of Early Years Education before exiting to middle school at the end of grade 3.

Upper primary is part of middle school. It is a three year programme where learners are exposed to a broad curriculum and given an opportunity for exploration and experimentation..

Lower secondary will expose the learner to a broad based curriculum to enable them to explore their own abilities, personality and potential as a basis for choosing subjects according to career paths of interest at the senior school.

Senior School comprises three years of education targeted at learners in the age bracket of 15 to 17 years and lays the foundation for further education and training at the tertiary level and the world of work. It marks the end of Basic Education as defined in the Education Act, 2013.

Level Ages Duration Subjects
Pre primary Ages 4-5 2 Years Language Activities, Mathematical Activities, Environmental Activities, Psychomotor and Creative Activities, Religious Education Activities
Lower Primary Ages 6-8 3 Years Kiswahili, English, literacy, and mother tongue as well as science, social studies and agricultural activities.
Upper Primary Ages 9-11 3 Years Kiswahili, English, Mathematics, Home Science, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Creative Arts (art, craft and music), Moral and Life Skills and Physical and Health Education.
Others are social studies (citizenship, geography and history) with an option of a foreign language (French, German, Chinese and Arabic).
Lower Secondary Ages 12-14 3 Years Mathematics, Kiswahili, English, life skills, health education, social studies, integrated science, business studies, religious education, agriculture, life skills, sports and physical education).
Optional subjects includes Home science, foreign languages, Kenyan sign language, indigenous languages, visual arts, performing arts, Arabic and computer science.
Senior School Ages 15-17 3 Years Arts and sports science, social sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

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