The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a comprehensive retooling exercise for senior secondary school teachers in readiness for the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at senior school level in January 2026.

The nationwide training, scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 15, 2025, will target educators currently serving in regular secondary schools, Special Needs Education (SNE) institutions, and vocational training centers.

These teachers will be responsible for instructing learners in Grades 10 to 12 under the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.

In a circular addressed to Regional and County Directors, TSC directed that the training sessions be conducted in-person across designated venues in all 47 counties.

“The retooling aims to equip teachers with the pedagogical approaches and subject mastery required to effectively deliver the CBC senior school curriculum,” the memo stated. It further emphasized that the training would focus on teachers who will be handling learners across different age groups and learning stages within the three senior school pathways.

The programme will span 55 subjects across three main learning pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences, which include languages, humanities, and business studies; and Arts and Sports Science, covering music, performing arts, visual arts, and physical education.

County directors will be tasked with identifying both the trainers and teacher participants, guided by the staffing levels in each school.

This initiative builds upon earlier retooling efforts for teachers at the pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary levels, which have been ongoing since 2019. With the pioneer CBC cohort now in Grade 9, the upcoming senior school rollout will mark the final stage in the full implementation of the CBC across the basic education cycle.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that both teachers and learners are adequately prepared for the transition.

“We have set aside Sh980 million for the retooling of senior schoolteachers. This is a critical investment to guarantee a smooth shift into the CBC senior school phase,” Ogamba said at a recent education stakeholders’ forum.

The CBC senior school framework introduces a pathway-based system, allowing learners to choose areas of specialization based on their interests, talents, and career ambitions.

The model is intended to foster holistic development, nurture creativity, and link classroom learning with real-world applications.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary General Akelo Misori welcomed the retooling programme, describing it as both timely and necessary.

“Teachers must fully grasp the CBC philosophy, instructional approach, and assessment frameworks. Any delays in this process would disrupt learning and compromise the quality of senior school education,” Misori cautioned.