If you are a teacher in Kenya, you have almost certainly heard someone say, "Just check the curriculum design." But getting your hands on the actual KICD curriculum design documents — and understanding how to use them — is another matter entirely.
This guide explains what KICD curriculum designs are, why they matter, how they are organised, and where you can access them for free. We also show you how to turn a curriculum design into actionable teaching materials: notes, schemes of work, lesson plans, and assessment rubrics.
What Are KICD Curriculum Designs?
A curriculum design is the master planning document for a specific learning area at a specific grade level. It is produced by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), the government body responsible for all curriculum matters under the Ministry of Education.
Each curriculum design contains:
- General Learning Outcomes — what the learner should achieve by the end of the course
- Strands and Sub-Strands — the major topics and sub-topics organised into teachable units
- Specific Learning Outcomes — measurable, observable outcomes for each sub-strand
- Suggested Learning Experiences — activities the teacher should use in class
- Key Inquiry Questions — questions that drive each lesson and encourage critical thinking
- Core Competencies — the 7 CBC (now CBE) competencies each sub-strand develops
- Pertinent and Contemporary Issues (PCIs) — cross-cutting themes like environmental education, health, and citizenship
- Values — the national values each lesson should promote
- Assessment Rubrics — basic competency-level descriptors (BE, AE, ME, EE)
Why Every Teacher Needs KICD Curriculum Designs
Without the curriculum design, a teacher is guessing. Here is why these documents are non-negotiable:
1. They Define What to Teach — and What Not to Teach
Under the old 8-4-4 system, teachers often relied on textbooks to decide what to cover. Under CBC (now CBE), the curriculum design is the authority, not the textbook. If a topic is in the textbook but not in the curriculum design, it is not examinable. If it is in the curriculum design but the textbook skips it, the teacher must still cover it.
2. They Structure the Entire Year
Each curriculum design allocates strands and sub-strands to specific terms. Term 1 topics are different from Term 2 topics. A teacher who does not follow this allocation will find their learners unprepared for end-of-term exams that are set based on the official termly breakdown.
3. They Drive Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans
A proper CBC (now CBE) scheme of work is built directly from the curriculum design. The strand names, sub-strand names, specific learning outcomes, key inquiry questions — all come word-for-word from the curriculum design. Without it, schemes of work are incomplete or misaligned.
4. They Set the Assessment Standard
The curriculum design tells you what competency looks like at each level: Below Expectations (BE), Approaching Expectations (AE), Meeting Expectations (ME), and Exceeding Expectations (EE). End-of-term exams and CBA rubrics must be aligned to these descriptors.
How KICD Curriculum Designs Are Organised
Every curriculum design follows the same structure, regardless of the grade or learning area:
| Section | What It Contains |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Overview of the learning area, its importance, and general learning outcomes |
| Strand Map | Table showing all strands and sub-strands for the entire course |
| Term-by-Term Breakdown | Which strands/sub-strands are taught in Term 1, Term 2, and Term 3 |
| Detailed Content Table | For each sub-strand: specific learning outcomes, learning experiences, key inquiry questions, core competencies, PCIs, values, assessment |
| Assessment Guidelines | Rubric descriptors and suggested assessment methods |
Curriculum Designs by Level
Pre-Primary (PP1 and PP2)
At this level, learning is activity-based. Curriculum designs cover: Language Activities, Mathematical Activities, Environmental Activities, Psychomotor and Creative Activities, and Religious Education Activities. There are no formal exams — assessment is through observation checklists.
Lower Primary (Grade 1–3)
Learning areas include: English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Environmental Activities, Hygiene and Nutrition, Creative Activities, Religious Education, and Movement and Creative Activities. Each has its own curriculum design document.
Upper Primary (Grade 4–6)
Adds Science and Technology, Social Studies, Agriculture, Home Science, and Life Skills to the core subjects from Lower Primary. Curriculum designs become more detailed with practical components.
Junior Secondary (Grade 7–9)
The most searched-for curriculum designs. Thirteen learning areas: English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Health Education, Pre-Technical Studies, Social Studies, Religious Education, Business Studies, Agriculture, Life Skills, Sports and Physical Education, and an Optional Subject.
Senior Secondary (Grade 10–12)
Curriculum designs here are organised by pathway: STEM, Arts and Sports, Social Sciences, and Languages. Each pathway has its own set of subjects with individual curriculum designs. Core subjects (English, Kiswahili, Mathematics) have curriculum designs that apply across all pathways.
Where to Download KICD Curriculum Designs for Free
The official source is the KICD website at kicd.ac.ke. Curriculum designs are published under the "Curriculum" or "Downloads" section. However, the website can be slow or hard to navigate.
We have organised all available curriculum design references on our Ministry Guidelines page for easy access:
From Curriculum Design to Teaching Materials
Having the curriculum design is step one. Step two is turning it into materials you can actually use in the classroom. Here is the workflow:
- Read the curriculum design for your grade and learning area. Note the strands and sub-strands allocated to the current term.
- Build your scheme of work by mapping each sub-strand to a specific week. Include: strand, sub-strand, specific learning outcomes, key inquiry questions, learning experiences, core competencies, PCIs, values, resources, and assessment.
- Write lesson plans for each sub-strand following the KICD format: introduction, lesson development (learner-centred activities), and conclusion.
- Create or source notes that cover each sub-strand with explanations, examples, and review questions aligned to the specific learning outcomes.
- Prepare assessment — end-of-term exams and CBA rubrics that test the strands covered that term.
This is a lot of work. Many teachers spend their weekends and holidays preparing these materials from scratch. That is exactly why we built CBC Edu Kenya — to provide ready-made, KICD-aligned materials for every grade and every learning area.
Save Hours of Preparation Time
Notes · Schemes of Work · Lesson Plans · Exams · Rubrics — all KICD-aligned
Browse All Materials → Try a Free Sample →Common Mistakes Teachers Make with Curriculum Designs
Mistake 1: Using the Wrong Year's Curriculum Design
KICD occasionally updates curriculum designs. Always check that you have the most recent version. A curriculum design from 2022 may have been revised for 2025 or 2026. The version year is usually printed on the front page.
Mistake 2: Following the Textbook Instead of the Curriculum Design
Textbooks are supplementary. The curriculum design is the authority. If your textbook covers a topic that is not in the curriculum design for that term, skip it. If the curriculum design includes a sub-strand that your textbook barely mentions, find additional resources.
Mistake 3: Ignoring PCIs and Values
During school inspections and quality assurance visits, KICD assessors specifically check whether PCIs (Pertinent and Contemporary Issues) and values are integrated into lesson delivery. These are listed in the curriculum design for each sub-strand — do not ignore them.
Mistake 4: Not Using the Rubric Descriptors
Every curriculum design includes assessment rubric descriptors showing what BE, AE, ME, and EE look like for each strand. Many teachers skip this section and assess based on gut feeling. Using the official descriptors ensures fair, consistent grading.
Free Resources to Complement Curriculum Designs
We offer several free resources that work alongside the curriculum designs:
- Free sample revision papers — try before you buy: Download free samples
- Holiday revision packs — affordable revision bundles: Holiday revision
- YouTube tutorials — free video lessons for every grade: @CBCEduKenya on YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a KICD curriculum design?
A KICD curriculum design is the official government document that outlines what must be taught in each learning area at each grade level under the CBC (now CBE) system. It includes strands, sub-strands, specific learning outcomes, key inquiry questions, suggested learning experiences, and assessment rubric descriptors.
Are KICD curriculum designs free to download?
Yes. KICD curriculum designs are public documents published by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development. They can be accessed through the official KICD website at kicd.ac.ke. CBC Edu Kenya also provides organised references on our Ministry Guidelines page.
How do I use a curriculum design to write a scheme of work?
Open the curriculum design for your grade and learning area. Identify the strands and sub-strands allocated to the current term. For each sub-strand, note the specific learning outcomes, key inquiry questions, and suggested learning experiences. Map these to specific weeks in a table format — that becomes your scheme of work. Include columns for core competencies, PCIs, values, resources, and assessment.
Is there a difference between a curriculum design and a syllabus?
In the 8-4-4 system, the word "syllabus" was commonly used. Under CBC (now CBE), the official term is "curriculum design." It is more detailed than the old syllabus — it includes not just what to teach but how to teach it, what competencies to develop, and how to assess learners using rubrics.
Where can I find curriculum designs for Grade 7–9?
Grade 7–9 (Junior Secondary) curriculum designs are available on the KICD website. CBC Edu Kenya also offers complete, ready-made teaching materials — notes, schemes of work, lesson plans, exams, and rubrics — built directly from these curriculum designs for all 13 learning areas.