Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has raised concerns over a potentially missing cohort of learners within Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system, calling for detailed data on student transition rates from Grade 1 to Grade 10.
According to a statement released by the Parliament of Kenya on Friday, June 5, 2026, the senator sought a formal statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Education regarding the progression of learners who joined Grade 1 in 2017, the year CBC was introduced.
Sifuna questioned whether all learners who entered the education system under the new curriculum had successfully advanced through subsequent grades, expressing concern that some may have dropped out or failed to transition as expected.
The senator's request comes as Parliament intensifies scrutiny of the implementation of CBC and the transition of learners into senior school under the reformed education system.
“Sifuna noted that the CBC was introduced to equip learners with practical skills aligned to Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the demands of the global workforce,” the statement by Parliament of Kenya said.
The Nairobi senator acknowledged that the curriculum was designed to move away from high-stakes national examinations and instead focus on continuous assessment, competency development, and practical learning experiences.
However, he stressed the importance of understanding whether the system is retaining learners and achieving its intended objectives. He called for accurate data on enrollment, retention, dropout rates, and learner transitions across all levels of the CBC structure.
Education stakeholders have increasingly focused on the first CBC cohort as it progresses through the system, with policymakers keen to assess the effectiveness of reforms introduced nearly a decade ago.
The Senate Education Committee is now expected to provide a detailed report addressing the concerns raised by Sifuna, including the number of learners who have transitioned successfully and the factors contributing to any dropouts or gaps in progression.
The findings could play a key role in shaping future education policies and strengthening measures aimed at ensuring all learners complete their education under the CBC framework.
