Wilson Sossion has torn into the decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject under the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) model, terming the move as a tragic mistake.
Reacting to the Ministry of Education’s decision to make Mathematics an optional subject in the CBC pathways, Sossion emphasized that Maths remains a fundamental subject owing to its wide application in virtually all careers.
Speaking during a live TV interview on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Sossion referenced the decision to return to the fundamental aspects of mathematics undertaken during the Moi era, stressing that the development got Kenyan quality and positive graduates.
He further contends that dropping mathematics goes against the principle of developing globally competitive human resources.
“The decision to have four core subjects, language community service and PE and remove mathematics as a core and compulsory subject is a tragic mistake. In all curricula all over the world, the strongest curriculum, the foundational subjects are basically three: Mathematics as the top most, language and science. It is what all education systems are implementing,” he said.
“During the Moi day we started 8-4-4 we shifted from other ordinary maths to pure and applied maths as we needed graduates who are well grounded in science education and mathematics,” he said.
The former MP has thus proposed the reinstatement of the subject, even if it involves designing a friendly model of maths for the other pathways and make it compulsory.
Make options
“So really we have mounted a well competitive curriculum in the teaching of maths and science from the years so for making maths an option for the path of humanity and sports is wrong. What we need is to reintroduce the STEM pathway. We can continue doing pure maths as a requirement and applied Mathematics will be good for STEM students. There is no way you cannot need mathematics in any career. It is needed in almost every field. Maths is life. We need to design some form of maths that is applicable and relevant to the pathways,” he advised
The Ministry of Education’s decision has sparked widespread criticism and opinions in its wake
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, strongly disputed the decision, terming it as a precursor to the collapse of the entire structure of learning structure in the country.
“Dropping Mathematics from the mandatory high school curriculum is not a good idea at all. First, there is a high probability that Kenya might be the only country to adopt such a move, which means the long-term effects are unknown and likely negative. Mathematics is the foundation of all knowledge, and without it, the entire structure of learning would collapse,” he argued.
“Removing math from the curriculum could have far-reaching consequences on the country’s educational system and its future development,” the governor said.
The debate over the decision has continued to attract criticism with stakeholders insisting that sidelining the subject could hinder national progress and violate students’ right to essential knowledge.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang had confirmed that students will only be required to take English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning as mandatory subjects.
