The Ministry of Education faces pressure to review the secondary school placement quota system developed for assigning Grade 10 students to Senior Secondary Schools. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) has urged the ministry to revise the formula.
In a press release on April 29, PCEA’s General Administration Committee (GAC), consisting of 147 Commissioners and delegates, highlighted the placement as a significant concern for Kenyans.
The Church pointed out the shortcomings of the current System.
PCEA explained that this system permits learners entering Grade 10 in high schools to choose three schools within their county and six outside of it.
It noted that this arrangement disadvantages counties with a limited number of top-tier schools.
“We propose a review of the system to allow learners to select schools based on merit and preference, ensuring equal opportunity across all regions,” reads part of the statement.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has already disclosed the factors that will influence the placement process.
KNEC clarified that Senior Schools will be categorized based on four key criteria: academic pathways (triple or double), type of accommodation (day or hybrid), gender (single-sex or mixed), and learner needs (special needs or vocational senior schools).
The students will select 12 schools based on their preferred pathways.
Of these, 9 will be boarding schools—3 from their home county and 6 from outside their county of residence.
Three of the schools must be day schools in their home sub-county or the sub-county of residence.
Additionally, students will choose four schools for each of their top three subject and track combinations—four for the first choice, four for the second, and four for the third—making a total of 12 school selections.
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Other Factors
Further, KNEC said the placement will be based on learners’ academic performance in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
The Commission will also conduct psychometric tests, such as learner aptitude, interest, and talent identification, in collaboration with all schools.
Other factors include regional balancing, school capacity, and the availability of space and resources in the respective schools applied for.
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PCEA Role in Education Sector
The PCEA church stated that it has continued to support government efforts in providing quality education, as evidenced by the many educational institutions it owns and sponsors.
The Church thanked the government for ensuring the transition to Junior Secondary School (JSS) by constructing Grade 9 classes and assigning qualified teachers to learning institutions.
“We are optimistic that we shall have a smooth transition to Senior Schools in 2026,” PCEA said. 2026,” PCEA said.
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