The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has announced plans to introduce questionnaires for Grade 9 students.
This initiative aims to guide learners in selecting career pathways as they transition to Senior Secondary School (SSS) in Grade 10.
Purpose of the questionnaires
Starting next year, Grade 9 students will complete questionnaires designed to explore their interests and personal attributes.
According to KNEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Njengere, these tools will be instrumental in helping learners identify their preferred career paths.
Apart from achievement assessments, we will also administer a questionnaire to Grade 9 learners to explore their interests and other personal attributes that will speak to the kind of pathways and tracks they will pursue in Senior School.
The questionnaires will supplement the academic assessments carried out during the school year, ensuring that students’ abilities, interests, and aspirations are fully considered before they make crucial educational decisions.
Career pathways in senior secondary school
The SSS curriculum is divided into three career pathways to cater to diverse learner strengths and interests:
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Subjects include Advanced Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Aviation Technology.
Social Sciences: Students can study Literature, History, Kiswahili, Religious Education, and foreign languages such as French and German.
Performing Arts: This pathway includes Music, Dance, Sports, and Recreation, offering opportunities for students with creative and athletic talents.
The first SSS cohort is expected to begin in 2026.
Teachers’ role in implementation
KNEC has shown confidence in teachers’ ability to administer these assessments, with Njengere noting that teachers have successfully conducted School-Based Assessments (SBAs) since 2019.
“Since 2019, teachers have been administering these SBAs, and we’ve been getting a normal curve, which shows that the teachers are very objective and professional,” Njengere affirmed.
KNEC has also trained teachers from 235 schools involved in a pilot program to familiarise them with the assessment tools.