PS Bitok Announces Grade 10 Placements Release Date and How to Check Through SMS

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has announced when learners transitioning to Senior Secondary Schools will be able to access their Grade 10 placements following the release of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.

Speaking on Wednesday, December 17, PS Bitok said the placements apply to learners transitioning to Grade 10 in 2026 under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

According to the PS, Grade 10 placements will be released by Friday, December 19. Candidates will be able to check the senior schools they have been placed in by sending an SMS with their KNEC assessment number to 22263.

During the release of the KJSEA results last week, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said learners transitioning to senior school will be placed based on their performance and selected learning pathways.

In line with recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, CS Ogamba explained that the Grade 9 assessment comprises 20 per cent from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), 20 per cent from School-Based Assessments in Grades 7 and 8, and 60 per cent from a summative evaluation at Grade 9.

“This summative evaluation is the KJSEA.”

Individual 2025 KJSEA Assessment results can be accessed online through the link https://kjsea.knec.ac.ke. Learners are required to enter their assessment number and any one of the name(s) as per the registration data for the 2025 KJSEA Assessment.

The CS added that secondary schools have already been clustered based on the pathways they will offer, forming the basis for school selection undertaken earlier in the year by learners and parents.

Also Read: How to Change Grade 10 School Choices Ahead of 2026 Admission

He further noted that Kenya currently has 9,540 senior schools with a total capacity of 2.2 million learners. With 929,262 candidates exiting secondary school after KCSE this year, senior schools will have additional classroom space, as only three classes will be hosted at this level.

The extra capacity, he said, will help avoid overcrowding and ensure all eligible learners are accommodated.

When the placement exercise concludes this week, Grade 10 learners are expected to report to their respective senior schools on January 12, 2026.

Fees payable in senior schools will vary depending on the new institutional classification framework, which groups schools into C1 to C4 clusters, replacing the former national, extra-county, county and sub-county categories.

Under the revised structure, former national schools, now designated as C1 institutions, will charge Ksh53,554 per year. Extra-county schools, reclassified as C2, will have an annual fee of Ksh45,054, while county schools, now referred to as C3 institutions, will charge Ksh40,035 annually.

Learners admitted to C4 schools, previously known as sub-county schools, will continue to benefit from free secondary education, with no tuition fees payable.

How learning in Grade 10 will take place

Following the transition to senior school in January 2026, learners will undertake a three-year cycle covering Grades 10, 11 and 12. Each learner will study seven subjects, including four compulsory core areas—English, Kiswahili, Core or Essential Mathematics, and Community Service Learning—alongside three elective subjects aligned to individual career pathways.

Senior school learners will attend 40 lessons per week, with each lesson lasting 40 minutes. Reporting time will be 8:00 a.m., with formal lessons running from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Non-formal programmes are to be scheduled after the final lesson at 3:20 p.m.

Break periods have been structured to support learner well-being, including a 10-minute break after the first two lessons, a 30-minute break after the next two lessons, and a one-hour lunch break.

In guidelines issued on November 4, 2025, the Ministry of Education directed schools to strictly adhere to the approved annual fee guidelines and to seek written approval from the Cabinet Secretary, through the County Education Board (CEB), before introducing any additional levies.

Schools are required to issue fee structures at the start of the academic year, clearly outlining vote heads such as tuition, boarding, meals and activity fees. Parents must receive advance notice of fee collection deadlines, and institutions are required to designate official payment channels.

Guidelines on fee collection in senior schools

All payments must be accompanied by official receipts indicating the amount paid, date of payment and purpose. Where necessary, schools may allow payment in instalments, provided that the arrangement is clearly documented and signed by both parties to prevent disputes and ensure learners are not denied access to education.

Also Read: From Free to Ksh53,554: How Much Grade 10s Will Pay Under C1-C4 Senior School System

Boards of Management (BoMs) are tasked with ensuring the prudent use and accountability of all collected fees. Schools must prepare and present annual financial reports to both the Parents’ Association (PA) and the BoM, detailing expenditure.

Any proposed fee increases, special levies or development projects requiring additional financial contributions must be discussed with the Parents’ Association before approval is sought.

The guidelines further require schools to support needy learners through bursaries, scholarships or partnerships with external donors, with clear communication on eligibility criteria and application procedures.

Government capitation funds must be used to subsidize tuition and other costs in line with Ministry of Education directives. Schools are also prohibited from sending learners away for non-payment of boarding fees, as provided for under the Basic Education Act (2013).

Additionally, a teacher in a senior school will be allocated a minimum of 27 lessons per week within their areas of specialization and is expected to teach at least two subjects under the senior school curriculum.

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