The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued fresh directives to schools registering Grade 10 learners, warning that subject choices submitted during the ongoing registration exercise will determine learner placement, classroom instruction and future assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In a circular obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, KNEC directed principals to ensure all Grade 10 learners are registered through the School-Based Assessment (SBA) portal before the July 30 deadline, stressing that schools must strictly adhere to the approved subject selection guidelines.
According to the council, schools are required to register learners based only on their confirmed career pathways and subject combinations.
"Subject choices registered will form the basis for learner placement, instruction, and subsequent assessment processes; therefore, schools must ensure accuracy and compliance with the prescribed guidelines," KNEC stated.
Schools must comply with KNEC's subject selection rules before the July 30 deadline to prevent registration errors that could disrupt learner placement and assessments.
KNEC Restricts Subject Combinations
The council warned that institutions must ensure every subject combination aligns with the approved Senior School curriculum and the pathways offered in their respective schools.
Among the key restrictions, KNEC clarified that learners who choose General Science will not be allowed to register for Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
The council also outlined new mathematics requirements, stating that learners pursuing two or three pure science subjects must study Core Mathematics and cannot opt for Essential Mathematics.
However, students enrolled in Applied Sciences, Technical and Engineering, Social Sciences, Arts or Sports pathways will be allowed to choose either Core Mathematics or Essential Mathematics.
KNEC further directed that learners can only register for one religious education subject, either Christian Religious Education (CRE), Islamic Religious Education (IRE) or Hindu Religious Education (HRE).
The council also clarified that Kenya Sign Language is exclusively reserved for learners with hearing impairment, who will not be eligible to take Kiswahili or Fasihi ya Kiswahili.
Hearing learners may instead register for Sign Language Skills.
The fresh guidelines come as schools race to complete the nationwide registration exercise ahead of Thursday's deadline, with KNEC warning that any errors in subject selection could affect learner placement, classroom instruction and future assessments under the CBC framework.
