Curriculum Guide

CBC vs CBE Kenya (2026): What Actually Changed?

Kenya renamed CBC to CBE in 2025. Here's exactly what changed for students, parents and teachers — and what stayed exactly the same.

By Revision Base5 min readJune 2026

If you are a parent, teacher, or student in Kenya, you have probably noticed something strange recently. The curriculum your child has been studying under — the one you have heard referred to as CBC for the past several years — is now being called CBE.

So what exactly changed? Is this a new curriculum? Do students need to start over? Will it affect exams? And why did the government change the name in the first place?

In this article, we answer all of these questions clearly and simply — so you can focus on what matters most: making sure your child is prepared.

⚡ The short answer

CBC and CBE refer to the same curriculum. The Kenyan Ministry of Education renamed CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum) to CBE (Competency-Based Education) in April 2025. The content, structure and goals of the curriculum did not change — only the name did.

What Was CBC?

CBC — the Competency-Based Curriculum — was introduced in Kenya in 2017 as a replacement for the old 8-4-4 system. Where 8-4-4 focused heavily on exams and memorisation, CBC was designed around developing practical skills and real-world competencies in learners.

Under CBC, the education structure changed significantly:

  • Early Years Education: Pre-Primary 1 and 2 (ages 4–5)
  • Lower Primary: Grade 1, 2, 3 (ages 6–8)
  • Upper Primary: Grade 4, 5, 6 (ages 9–11)
  • Junior Secondary School (JSS): Grade 7, 8, 9 (ages 12–14)
  • Senior Secondary School: Grade 10, 11, 12 (ages 15–18)

The first cohort of CBC students reached Grade 7 — the first year of Junior Secondary School — in January 2023, marking one of the biggest transitions in Kenya's education history.

So What Is CBE — and Why the Name Change?

In April 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba announced that the curriculum would henceforth be known as CBE — Competency-Based Education — rather than CBC.

The reasoning given by the Ministry was largely about clarity and alignment with international terminology. 'Competency-Based Education' is the term used globally by education systems in countries like Finland, Singapore and Canada. The Ministry felt that aligning Kenya's name with global usage would reduce confusion and better reflect the curriculum's philosophy.

Importantly, no changes were made to the curriculum itself. The subjects, the structure, the assessment approach, the learning outcomes — all remained the same. Parents and teachers who had invested years learning about CBC do not need to relearn anything. CBE is CBC, just with a new name.

ℹ️ Why this matters for parents

If your child's school sends home documents or report cards using 'CBE' instead of 'CBC', this is not a sign that something has changed in your child's learning. It is simply the new official name. Everything else stays the same.

CBC vs CBE: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is a clear breakdown of what changed and what did not:

FeatureCBC (old name)CBE (new name — 2025)
Official nameCompetency-Based Curriculum (CBC)Competency-Based Education (CBE)
Introduced2017Name change: April 2025
StructurePre-Primary → Primary → JSS → Senior SecondaryUnchanged — identical structure
SubjectsSame subjects across all gradesUnchanged — no new subjects added
AssessmentFormative + summative assessmentsUnchanged — same approach
KNEC examsKenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA)Unchanged — same exams
JSS examsJunior Secondary School Assessment (JSSA)Unchanged — same exams
TextbooksCBC-branded materialsGradual transition to CBE branding
Who it affectsAll students Grade 1–12All students Grade 1–12 — same learners

What Does This Mean for Students?

For students currently in the CBC/CBE system, the name change means very little in practical terms. Here is what has not changed:

  • The subjects your child studies remain the same
  • The way teachers assess and grade work remains the same
  • The national exams (KPSEA and JSSA) remain the same
  • The pathway from Grade 1 through to Grade 12 remains the same
  • The skills-based, hands-on approach to learning remains the same

The main thing students and parents will notice is that official communications, school documents, and education resources will increasingly use 'CBE' rather than 'CBC'. This transition will happen gradually over the coming months and years.

What Does This Mean for Teachers?

For teachers, the situation is similarly straightforward. The lesson plans, schemes of work, and assessment tools that teachers have been using under CBC remain valid under CBE. There is no requirement to rewrite resources or retrain on new content.

However, as the official name changes, teachers should expect:

  • New official documents from KNEC and the Ministry to use 'CBE' terminology
  • Updated curriculum frameworks and guidelines to be labelled CBE
  • School inspection and TSC documentation to gradually shift to CBE language

At Revision Base, all our teacher tools — lesson planners, schemes of work, and question generators — are already updated to reflect the CBE name, while still covering all the same content teachers have always used.

👩‍🏫 For teachers

If you use Revision Base's AI lesson planner, all generated plans now use CBE terminology and are aligned to the 2025 curriculum guidelines. Your existing CBC lesson plans remain valid — you do not need to redo them.

Does KCSE Still Exist Under CBE?

Yes — but KCSE is being phased out as the CBE system fully takes over. KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) belongs to the old 8-4-4 system. The last group of KCSE students are currently in Form 3 and will sit their final KCSE examinations in 2027. There are no longer any Form 1 or Form 2 students in the 8-4-4 system.

Meanwhile, the first cohort of CBE students has already reached Senior Secondary School. In 2026, the pioneer CBE class joined Grade 10 — a landmark moment in Kenya's education history. These students will sit a new national examination at the end of Grade 12, replacing KCSE entirely once the 8-4-4 system is fully wound down after 2027.

Here is where things stand in 2026:

  • The last KCSE students are in Form 3 — they will sit the final KCSE exams in 2027
  • The first CBE cohort joined Grade 10 (Senior Secondary) in 2026 — a historic milestone
  • After 2027, KCSE will be retired and CBE will be Kenya's sole education system

How Revision Base Supports Both CBE and KCSE Students

At Revision Base, we built our platform to serve every Kenyan student — whether you are in the CBE pathway or preparing for KCSE.

For CBE Students (Grade 1–9)For KCSE Students (Form 3 only — final year 2027)
Revision notes for all CBE grades and subjectsRevision notes for all KCSE subjects (Form 3 — final KCSE year)
Practice questions aligned to the 2025 CBE curriculumPast paper questions with mark schemes
Term opener exam preparationFull-length timed KCSE mock exams
Personalised study schedules by gradeAI question generator for any KCSE topic
CBE lesson planners and schemes of work for teachersKCSE lesson planners for teachers

The Bottom Line

CBC and CBE are the same thing. The Kenyan government renamed the curriculum in April 2025 — but nothing about what your child learns, how they are assessed, or what they are working towards has changed.

If you are a parent, the best thing you can do is stay informed and ensure your child has access to the right revision resources as they move through the CBE pathway. If you are a teacher, your existing CBC resources remain fully valid — and tools like Revision Base are already updated to use the new CBE terminology.

The name may have changed. The mission has not: to give every Kenyan child the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between CBC and CBE in Kenya?▾
CBC and CBE refer to the same curriculum. The Kenyan Ministry of Education renamed CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum) to CBE (Competency-Based Education) in April 2025. The content, structure and goals of the curriculum did not change — only the name did.
Why did Kenya rename CBC to CBE?▾
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba announced the rename in April 2025, citing alignment with international terminology. "Competency-Based Education" is the term used globally by education systems in countries like Finland, Singapore and Canada.
Does KCSE still exist under CBE?▾
KCSE is being phased out as the CBE system fully takes over. The last group of KCSE students are in Form 3 and will sit their final KCSE examinations in 2027. The first CBE cohort joined Grade 10 (Senior Secondary) in 2026 and will sit a new national exam at the end of Grade 12.
Do teachers need to rewrite their CBC lesson plans for CBE?▾
No. The lesson plans, schemes of work, and assessment tools used under CBC remain valid under CBE. There is no requirement to rewrite resources. Official documents will gradually shift to CBE language over time.

Ready to support your child's CBE journey?

Revision Base has free revision notes, practice questions and teacher tools for every CBE grade — updated for the 2025 curriculum.

Explore CBE Revision Tools on Revision Base

Free plan includes revision notes, practice questions & mock exams. No credit card needed.

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