Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reaffirmed that Mathematics will remain a compulsory subject in both primary and secondary schools.
The clarification follows widespread debate and stakeholder consultations regarding a proposal to make Mathematics optional under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Ogamba stated that after engaging with education stakeholders, including the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), it was agreed that all students must study Mathematics—though in varying forms depending on their academic pathways.
“The majority of stakeholders during the CBC dialogue strongly supported retaining Mathematics as a compulsory subject in senior school,” said Ogamba. “We’ve listened to your concerns and resolved that a version of Mathematics will be required for the two academic pathways that are not STEM-focused.”
To accommodate diverse learner needs, students pursuing arts and humanities will be taught a simplified version of Mathematics.
This announcement comes in response to public outcry and opposition from groups such as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), which argued that removing Mathematics as a core subject could weaken national education standards and workforce readiness.
Previously, the Ministry of Education had announced that Mathematics would no longer be mandatory in senior secondary under the CBC.
The proposed curriculum had listed four compulsory subjects: English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning—excluding Mathematics, unlike the phased-out 8-4-4 system.
