The government is set to incorporate simulation technology to support the delivery of practical-based subjects under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) as it gears up for implementation in senior secondary schools beginning January 2026.

Education experts have emphasized the significance of simulations and modeling in facilitating the teaching of specialized subjects like Aviation and Marine and Fisheries Technology.

According to Simon Gicharu, the Chairperson of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), modern technology allows schools, regardless of resource limitations to offer courses that would otherwise require substantial infrastructure investment.

Speaking during the unveiling of the second phase of the KICD Educational Resource Centre, Gicharu noted that simulations are part of a broader strategy to equip learners with 21st-century competencies while minimizing pressure on physical resources in schools.

There have been concerns from education stakeholders about how feasible it would be to implement such technical subjects in public day schools.

But curriculum developers have reassured schools that they will not need to purchase real aircraft or marine vessels to teach these subjects.

Instead, learners will rely on sophisticated simulation tools to understand and engage with practical concepts at a fraction of the cost. "This approach helps dispel the misconception that a school needs to acquire an old plane or ship to offer these subjects," Gicharu clarified.

He added that the newly expanded Educational Resource Centre will serve as a hub for curriculum experts to test innovations, conduct experiments, and design real-world learning models an essential pillar for CBC’s long-term success.

Phase One of the construction is currently 70 percent complete. The facility is expected to enhance research and development in science, technology, and innovation.

Gicharu noted that the center’s full development, structured in six phases, depends on funding from the National Treasury allocated each financial year.

In a related development, the Ministry of Education is also introducing reforms in how Mathematics will be delivered under the new senior school framework.