The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly opposed the government’s proposal to make Mathematics optional in senior secondary schools.
The union argues that this decision could negatively impact workforce development and academic standards across the country.
The Ministry of Education recently announced a significant shift under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), removing Mathematics as a mandatory subject for senior school students. Instead, learners will now be required to take four compulsory subjects: English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning. They will then select three additional subjects from a list of 38 options.
However, KUPPET's Acting Secretary General, Moses Nthurima, insists that Mathematics is a critical subject with applications spanning various fields, including humanities, sports, and STEM disciplines. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, he emphasized that eliminating Mathematics as a core subject could jeopardize students’ future academic and career prospects.
“KUPPET firmly rejects this proposal. Mathematics is fundamental for shaping a skilled workforce in the 21st century. It also plays a crucial role in other fields of learning, including humanities and sports, not just STEM,” stated Nthurima.
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In addition to opposing the curriculum change, KUPPET has raised concerns about the recent Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotion list. The union claims that many teachers feel unfairly overlooked in the 2024/2025 promotions, citing issues with how the 25,252 vacancies were distributed across all 47 counties.
Nthurima pointed out that counties with larger teacher populations, such as Kiambu and Kakamega, faced tougher competition, while those in smaller counties benefited disproportionately. KUPPET is calling for a review of the promotion process, advocating for a merit-based system that accounts for staffing disparities to ensure fairness.
