The Ministry of Education has announced that Grade 10 learners and their parents will have a seven-day window starting Tuesday, December 23, 2025, to review and, if necessary, revise senior school placements under the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) structure.
The revision period aims to address concerns from students and parents who are dissatisfied with their assigned schools or pathways, while ensuring the process remains transparent, fair, and aligned with national placement guidelines.
Ministry Responds to Placement Concerns
Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Prof Julius Bitok, said the government understands the anxieties surrounding the transition to Grade 10, especially as this is a pioneering undertaking.
“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. We encourage all involved parties to engage constructively in the placement process,” Prof Bitok said.
Some learners had expressed concerns over allocations to schools far from home or placement in undesired pathways. In response, the Ministry will open the placement portal for seven days to allow learners to adjust their selections.
How the Revision Process Will Work
Learners are advised to contact their Grade 9 schools or the Ministry’s Sub-County and County offices to take advantage of the revision period.
The process will be guided by an automated system that matches learner preferences with their performance and available slots in schools. The system will also correct errors such as incorrect gender entries.
“Learners were initially given 12 school choices (C1 to C4) to select institutions that match their competencies and preferences. The system will now allow revisions based on pathway availability and merit,” Prof Bitok explained.
Understanding Learner Assessment
Placement into senior schools is based on a combination of assessments conducted under the CBE framework:
- 40% Formative Assessment – Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in Grade 6, and continuous assessment in Grades 7 and 8.
- 60% Summative Assessment – Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) in Grade 9.
The first KJSEA was conducted in November 2025, with results released on December 11, 2025, and multiple stakeholders, including media, were involved to ensure transparency.
What Can Be Revised?
During the revision period, learners can:
- Change their assigned senior school to one with available slots.
- Switch pathways, for example, from STEM to Social Sciences, subject to eligibility and space availability.
Prof Bitok emphasised that all revisions will be processed equitably and in line with placement guidelines.
“The portal will be open for one week for admissions, and you can revise and get the pathway you really like. Schools open for applications will be displayed on the system,” he said.
Guidance for Parents and Learners
The Ministry will also publish a list of senior secondary schools with vacancies, categorized by pathway and cluster, to guide parents and candidates. Learners must submit revised choices through their junior schools, selecting only from schools that appear as available.
“After the learner knows which pathway and schools they have been placed, they will be given an opportunity, if they don’t like the pathway or if their results are not in agreement with the pathway they chose, to revise starting Tuesday, 23rd,” Prof Bitok added.
Universities Asked to Align Programs With CBE
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba urged universities to align their programs with the CBE framework in preparation for the first senior school cohort, expected in 2029.
“We have developed a draft national implementation roadmap to guide universities in this transition. We have already aligned teacher education programs and will continue to build the capacity of university staff on CBE,” Mr Ogamba said.
Reporting to Senior Secondary Schools
The Ministry confirmed that learners will be required to report to their senior secondary schools by Monday, January 12, 2026.
Prof Bitok reiterated that placements are guided by a merit-based framework, considering learner choices, KJSEA performance, and the availability of spaces in preferred schools and subject combinations.
“The selection of learners is structured to promote fairness, equity, and alignment with the CBE system,” he said.
