The Ministry of Education has announced a renewed commitment to mathematics in senior secondary schools, signaling a shift toward a more responsive and flexible curriculum.
The decision follows growing concern from educators, professionals, and members of the public who challenged earlier proposals to drop mathematics as a compulsory subject for certain academic tracks. After weeks of national conversation and public participation forums, the ministry has opted to retain the subject across all learning pathways albeit in forms that better reflect the diverse interests and needs of students.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the move is rooted in feedback gathered during consultations on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). According to Ogamba, the message from stakeholders was clear: mathematics is too foundational to be optional.
But this is not just a reinstatement it’s a rethinking. The ministry is taking a more nuanced approach, allowing the subject to adapt depending on the academic direction a student chooses. Rather than enforce uniformity, the government is introducing a model that preserves the discipline’s core while reshaping its content to align with different educational goals.
This development marks a departure from rigid, traditional models of instruction. It also reflects a broader educational philosophy now taking root in Kenya one that values relevance, flexibility, and preparedness for a rapidly evolving world.
Speaking at the National Conversation on CBC, Ogamba underscored that this approach aims to equip every learner with problem-solving skills, regardless of whether they are headed toward science labs, art studios, or policy think tanks. In doing so, the Ministry of Education is reinforcing mathematics as a life skill, not just a school subject.
