Kenya’s education system is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. The shift from the 8-4-4 system to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) — structured as 6-3-3 — is changing not only what students learn, but how they learn it. At Tharaka Secondary School, we are fully committed to navigating this transition with clarity, preparation, and enthusiasm. This article explains what the change means for our students and families.

Two systems, one school

At present, TSS operates across two curriculum frameworks. Our Form Three and Form Four students continue under the established 8-4-4 system, preparing for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. They are the final cohort to complete this pathway, and we remain fully committed to ensuring they achieve outstanding results.

Meanwhile, our Form One and Form Two students are enrolled under the new CBC framework, following the 6-3-3 structure. These students completed their primary education under the new system and are now entering the Senior School phase of a fundamentally different educational journey.

What is CBC and how does it differ?

The Competency Based Curriculum focuses on what a learner can do with knowledge — not merely what they can recall during an examination. Where 8-4-4 was largely content-heavy and examination-driven, CBC emphasises practical skills, critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem solving.

“CBC is not easier or harder than 8-4-4 — it is different. It asks students to demonstrate understanding through projects, portfolios, and application, not just written tests.”

Under the 6-3-3 structure, students spend six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary (Grade 7–9), and three years in senior secondary (Grade 10–12). At senior secondary level, students choose a pathway that aligns with their strengths and ambitions: STEM, Arts and Sports Science, or Social Sciences and Applied studies.

How TSS is preparing

Our teachers have undergone CBC training and are actively adapting lesson delivery to the new framework. We have invested in project-based learning resources and are building assessment portfolios for all junior secondary students. The school has also updated its co-curricular programme to align with CBC’s emphasis on holistic development.

For parents, the most important thing to understand is that CBC success looks different from what you may remember from your own schooling. Consistent engagement, participation in school projects, and the development of independent thinking are now as important as examination scores. We encourage every parent to engage regularly with your child’s teachers to understand how their competencies are being developed.

Our commitment

Whether your son is in Form Four preparing for his final KCSE examinations or in Form One beginning his CBC journey, Tharaka Secondary School is committed to providing the best possible education. Curriculum change is not a disruption — it is an opportunity. We intend to seize it fully.