Basic education, CBE, universities, colleges and HELB.
Search the official Constitution →Every child in Kenya has a right to free and compulsory basic education. The system has moved from the old 8-4-4 to Competency-Based Education (CBE) on a 2-6-3-3-3 structure, run by the national government with counties handling pre-primary education.
Article 43; Article 53; Articles 43 and 53Competency-Based Education (CBE), formerly called CBC, replaced the 8-4-4 system. It runs on a 2-6-3-3-3 structure — two years of pre-primary, six of primary, three of junior school, three of senior school, then university — and focuses on skills rather than exams alone.
Most of education is a national function — policy, curriculum, examinations, teachers and universities — while county governments are responsible for pre-primary education (ECDE) and village polytechnics.
Article 237; Fourth ScheduleThe Constitution gives every child the right to free and compulsory basic education. The State and parents share the duty to ensure children are in school, and the Basic Education Act puts this right into practice.
Article 53After senior school, students can join universities, colleges or TVET institutions. Placement to public institutions is coordinated by KUCCPS, and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) helps fund students who qualify.
