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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue VI, June 2026
These findings demonstrate that learners’ interests and talents played a significant role in influencing their choice
of senior secondary school pathways among Grade 9 learners in Bungoma County. The majority of learners
indicated that their personal interests influenced their pathway choices, that their talents matched their selected
pathways, that they enjoyed subjects related to their pathways, and that they were passionate about their chosen
pathways. Furthermore, most learners disagreed that they selected pathways that did not align with their interests.
These findings shows that learners generally preferred pathways that reflected their personal strengths,
preferences, and aspirations. In the researcher’s view, the results indicate that pathway selection under the
Competency-Based Curriculum is increasingly becoming learner-centered, as many learners appear to consider
their interests and talents when making educational decisions. However, the presence of a small proportion of
learners who selected pathways that did not match their interests shows that external factors such as parental
influence, school conditions, career guidance, and resource availability may still shape pathway choices.
Therefore, while interests and talents emerged as important determinants of pathway selection, there remains a
need for continuous guidance and support to ensure that all learners are able to pursue pathways that genuinely
reflect their abilities, passions, and future goals.
CONCLUSION
The study concluded that learners’ interests and talents played an important role in pathway selection. Many
learners selected pathways that reflected their personal interests, talents, enjoyment of subjects, and passion for
future learning. This showed that learners were becoming more aware of their abilities and preferences under
the Competency-Based Education system. However, some learners still selected pathways that did not fully
match their interests, showsing that external influences such as parents, peers, school limitations, and limited
guidance still affected some choices. Therefore, interests and talents should be strongly considered in pathway
selection to promote learner motivation and commitment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings of this study, schools should identify and nurture learners’ interests and talents early
through clubs, sports, arts, practical activities, mentorship, and co-curricular programmes.
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