Under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), Grade 9 learners will move to senior schools through a structured placement process.
The Ministry of Education outlined how Grade 9 learners will be placed into Grade 10, with criteria designed to ensure fairness while also considering individual talent and available resources.
CBC: Five Key Criteria for Placement
The placement of learners into Grade 10 is guided by five main factors:
- Learners’ Choice
Each learner will select 12 schools based on their chosen pathways, subject combinations, and accommodation preferences.
- Four schools under the first-choice subject track.
- Four schools under the second-choice track.
- Four schools under the third-choice track.
Out of the 12, 9 must be boarding schools (3 within the learner’s home county and 6 outside) and 3-day schools in their home sub-county.
- Merit
Academic performance in the Grade 9 assessment will play a central role. Top-performing learners in each track will get priority placement in boarding schools of their choice. For example, the top six learners per gender in STEM, the top three in Social Sciences, and the top two in Arts and Sports Science will secure priority slots. Learners with achievement levels of 7 or 8 will also be considered for boarding placement. - Psychometric Tests
Beyond academic scores, learners will undergo aptitude and talent assessments to match them with appropriate pathways. These psychometric tests, conducted by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) in collaboration with schools, aim to identify individual interests, strengths, and natural talents. - Equity
To ensure fairness, the Ministry introduced regional balancing measures. This prevents learners from certain regions from being disadvantaged and ensures that opportunities are distributed equally across counties. - School Capacity
Finally, placement will take into account the availability of space and resources in each school. Schools can only admit learners within their documented capacity, ensuring that infrastructure, staffing, and learning facilities are not overstretched.
Also Read: How to Transfer Student from One School to Another Under CBC
The Placement Process
Once the criteria are applied, learners will be placed in a transparent manner.
Placement results will be released, showing the specific schools where each learner has been admitted. Admission letters will then be accessed online using the learner’s Assessment Number.
To enhance efficiency, all Grade 10 admissions—both public and private—will be processed through the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS). Importantly, no learner will be considered officially admitted until they physically report to school, and daily reporting will be tracked through KEMIS.
Also Read: Plan to Roll Out CBC in Universities Countywide in Top Gear
Automated Placement System
The Grade 10 placement will be supported by an automated system designed to ensure fairness and efficiency.
Teachers will provide critical input by offering insights into each learner’s potential, strengths, and areas for improvement.
Academic performance, as reflected in grades and test scores, will play a central role in determining subject eligibility. In addition, learners’ personal interests—identified through career exploration assessments—will guide subject selection and pathway choices.
The system features modifiable controls to accommodate unique cases, while data processing and continuous monitoring ensure accuracy and transparency in placements.
Placement data will be stored and analyzed to track patterns, enhance accountability, and support future improvements. Ultimately, decisions will be data-driven, guaranteeing that learners are matched to schools, subjects, and pathways in a way that best reflects their abilities and aspirations.
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