New Things Form One Student Should Expect In Secondary Schools
In Kenya, secondary school students have the opportunity to meet and interact with a diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds.
They will meet classmates from different ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as students with varying interests, talents, and personalities.
This can be a valuable opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate diversity, and to develop important social and emotional skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork.
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Additionally, secondary schools in Kenya usually have a wide range of extracurricular activities and clubs that allow students to explore their interests and passions, meet like-minded individuals, and develop leadership and other skills.
Kenya’s Form Ones can expect a number of things when joining secondary schools. Some of the key expectations are:
More challenging curriculum: Form One students will be introduced to new subjects and more challenging coursework, which will require them to study harder and manage their time more effectively.
New environment: Form Ones will be in a new environment with new teachers, classmates, and rules. They will need to adapt to the new surroundings and get used to the school culture.
More responsibilities: Form Ones will have more responsibilities, such as keeping up with homework and adhering to dress codes and other school rules.
More focus on discipline and character development: Schools typically put more emphasis on discipline and character development in Form One, as students are transitioning from primary to secondary education.
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More opportunities for extracurricular activities: Form Ones will have more opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and clubs, which can help them to develop new interests and skills.
More focus on Career guidance: Form ones will be exposed to more information on career guidance, which will help them to make informed decisions about the subjects they will take in future.
In Kenya, there have been recent changes and new developments in secondary schools, such as technology integration.
Many secondary schools in Kenya are now incorporating technology into their teaching and learning processes, such as using digital devices and online resources to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Alternative learning methods such as blended learning, online learning, and distance learning have become more prevalent in secondary schools as schools adapt to the changing learning environment.
Some are now putting more emphasis on the mental health of students and providing support to those who may be struggling with mental health issues.
There has also been an increased partnership between private sector and secondary schools in Kenya for the purpose of enhancing the education system.
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The Ministry of Education, in response to recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, has also announced significant changes to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). These changes will impact various levels of the education system:
- Pre-primary will now have a maximum of five learning areas, while lower primary, upper primary, junior school, and senior school will have seven, eight, nine, and seven learning areas, respectively.
- The upper primary level will witness a reduction in learning areas from 10 to 8.
- Junior Secondary School (JSS) students will now engage in 9 subjects, down from the previous 14.
- Key subjects in JSS will include English, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, Mathematics, Religious Education, Integrated Science, Pre-Technical Studies, Agriculture and Nutrition, and Social Studies.
- The total number of lessons per week in JSS will be reduced from 45 to 41.
- Upper Primary will experience a shift from 40 to 35 lessons per week, inclusive of the Pastoral Instruction Programme (PPI).
- Learners in Grade 1 to 3 will now have 7 instead of 9 learning areas.
- Lessons for Pre-Primary learners will remain unchanged.
- These structural changes will take effect in January 2024.
- As part of the new arrangement, Foreign and Indigenous languages will be redefined as co-curricular activities. This transformation reflects a broader shift in the curriculum, aligning it with the evolving educational landscape.
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New Things Form One Student Should Expect In Secondary Schools
