The Ministry of Education has opened a window for Grade 9 learners who sat the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) examinations to change their senior school choices following public outcry over dissatisfaction with the placements.
The uproar arose after some parents and guardians complained that the schools their children were assigned to did not align with the scores they had attained.
In a statement dated Sunday, December 21, 2025, the Ministry acknowledged concerns from parents and candidates regarding the placements.
MoE Issues Guidelines for Change of Senior School after KJSEA Results
PS Julius Bitok, Basic Education Principal Secretary, explained that the dissatisfaction stemmed mainly from high competition and limited admission slots in popular schools, poor communication among parents, learners, and school heads during the selection process, and mismatches between chosen pathways and assessment outcomes.
As a result, the Ministry has opened a one-week window and issued guidelines on how affected candidates can apply for a change of senior school placement, with applicants expected to liaise with their senior schools or the Ministry of Education Sub-County and County offices.
“To address these concerns, the Ministry will open a seven-day review of senior school choices starting Tuesday, December 23. Candidates are advised to contact their Grade 9 schools or the Ministry of Education Sub-County and County offices to take advantage of this window through their respective heads of institutions,” the statement read.
According to the Basic Education PS, the review will be guided by an automated system that matches preferences to learners’ performance and the availability of school slots. During the review period, incorrect gender entries will also be addressed.
Also Read: KNEC Sends Stern Warning After Schools Send Own KJSEA Results Analysis
At the same time, the PS encouraged all involved parties to engage constructively in the placement process as the Government collectively refines and strengthens Competency-Based Education (CBE) for the benefit of our learners.
“Being a pioneer undertaking, the Government appreciates and empathizes with parents, learners, and other stakeholders’ anxieties and uncertainties around the transition to Grade 10. We are dedicated to making the placement process as transparent, fair, and satisfactory as possible while taking into account learners’ preferences and the capacities and available pathways in respective schools,” said the Basic Education PS.
The new window for senior school placement revision comes amid mixed reactions following the release of the KJSEA results.
Some of the complaints raised include reports from high-performing students who were placed in academic pathways, such as Arts or Sports, that did not align with their chosen career ambitions, including STEM.
Parents also expressed frustration after high-scoring learners were placed in sub-county day schools instead of their preferred national or regional institutions.
About CBE
Pathway selection under the new Competence-Based Curriculum (CBE) allows students to choose educational pathways that correspond with their demonstrated skills, interests, and aspirations.
The options available for selection are: (i) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), (ii) Social Sciences, and (iii) Arts and Sports. Learners are provided with 12 choices to make for their preferred senior schools (Grade 10), ranging from C1 to C4.
The options give learners a platform to select schools that match their competencies, preferences, and institutions’ capacities.
Also Read: Full List of C3 County Schools in Kenya for Grade 10 Students
This pathway selection exercise was concluded earlier in 2025, with each learner, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, State Department for Basic Education, parents, and teachers, selecting a pathway featuring a three-subject combination.
To assess learners’ competencies, CBE relies on formative and summative assessments on a 20-20-60 percent basis. 40% of the assessment is formative, based on the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in grade 6, while another 20% is based on teachers’ continuous assessment in grades 7 and 8.
The remaining 60 percent is obtained through the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) administered in Grade 9.
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