Over 5,000 out of 9,750 senior schools were not selected by learners joining Grade 10 in 2026, raising concerns over school preference and locality.
In a statement on Thursday, July 17, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the placement of the 1.2 million Grade 9 learners concluded in May.
Despite the capacity to host all learners in senior school, many schools, mostly sub-county and day schools, were left unchosen.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said learner choices were guided by school type, proximity, and perceived quality.
Preference and Locality Driving Choices
“Most of the schools that have not received any learners are day schools, and those in remote areas. Preference and locality are playing a major role,” Bitok said.
Speaking during the Citizens of the Future Education Summit in Nairobi, the PS disclosed that the Ministry has categorized the senior schools into four clusters.
These include national schools, extra-county, county, and day schools.
He added that former national and extra-county schools are more likely to be selected due to better infrastructure and academic reputation.
Calls for National Dialogue
Bitok called for a national conversation on how to optimize learning resources, especially considering the 5,000 schools left out of the selection.
“If there are more than 5,000 schools which have not been selected by any learner, what can we really do as a country so that we can be able to optimise resources?” he posed.
The PS assured that despite the imbalance in selection, the government is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and equitable distribution of learners in the senior school phase.
Bitok reveals shutdown of some schools
Officials say awareness campaigns and school mapping are ongoing to support informed choices.
Bitok also revealed that the Ministry of Education will begin urgent talks with stakeholders to decide the fate of the under-enrolled schools.
Also Read: Ministry of Education Clarifies Fresh Changes to CBC Program
Further, the consultations will address the sustainability of the institutions as the government struggles with strained resources.
The ministry is considering merging or repurposing some of the institutions to ensure efficiency and quality due to uneven teacher distribution.
Learners Choosing STEM Pathways
A report by Zizi Afrique Foundation showed that 65 per cent of Grade 9 learners understand the three senior school pathways. These include Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Performing Arts.
Also Read: CBC Confusion: Grade 9 Crisis and Case of Incompetence Based Curriculum
Most learners prefer the STEM route, with 68 per cent of boys and 59 per cent of girls indicating interest.
However, 35 per cent of learners are still unaware of the pathways, a gap the Ministry hopes to address before transition.
The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) allows learners to select pathways aligned to their talents and interests.
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