The government is reviewing the Grade 10 reporting schedule as thousands of learners have not joined schools on time, citing high expenses and other difficulties faced by families.
Figures from the Ministry of Education show that only around 400,000 of the 1.1 million students placed have reported so far, leaving more than 700,000 yet to start. National schools are recording strong attendance, while extra-county and sub-county institutions lag behind.
During a visit to Alliance Boys High School on Thursday, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said most of the students assigned to the school had reported as expected.
“I am pleased to report that over 90 per cent of the students placed here, 634 out of 700, have successfully reported. This is a testament to the commitment of both learners and educators,” he said.
The situation is starkly different in Category Two and sub-county schools, where thousands of students have not joined classes as the reporting deadline approaches.
Ministry data shows national schools, listed as Cluster One, have achieved a 91 per cent reporting rate. Extra-county schools, in Cluster Two, stand at about 50 per cent, while sub-county schools, now Category Four, have less than 40 per cent of students reporting.
Many parents blame the high costs of schooling for the delay. Beyond official fees, families are required to buy uniforms, textbooks, bedding, and other essentials, bringing the total cost to between Sh20,000 and Sh50,000.
Parents have also raised concerns about the distance to schools and poor facilities. Some have requested transfers, saying their children were assigned to schools far from home or lacking enough teachers, laboratories, or equipment needed for their chosen pathways under the new curriculum.
The ministry acknowledges that certain schools may not yet be fully equipped to deliver science, technical, and vocational subjects central to the new senior secondary curriculum. Despite this, Bitok remains optimistic about the transition process.
“We are confident that by the end of this process, all the students will have been placed successfully. We shall have 100 per cent transition because we have enough spaces in Grade 10 senior schools to take all the learners. We expect more students to go to Category Four schools because they have more capacity, but so far 42 per cent of the students who have reported have reported in Category Four schools,” he said.
The ministry noted that more than 50,000 learners applied to just 20 popular schools, leaving thousands without their preferred placements. Parents are encouraged to accept placements in other schools, especially Category Four schools, which still have space available.
“We are asking principals that if parents walk into your school, place your request in the portal, and the approval will come if the capacity is there. But without capacity, it is hard because the system will not allow you to place a student in a school that is full. We encourage parents to take up the schools that the students have been placed in. There is no confusion. We are very clear in our minds, and we are sure all learners will be transitioned,” Bitok added.
To address teacher shortages in specialised subjects, the ministry is collaborating with the Teachers Service Commission.
“We are working very closely with TSC, and we have had a few meetings to ensure we build capacity for those specialised areas which have fewer teachers. Over time, we want to build the capacity of some of our big schools to teach these technical areas, which were not there in the previous curriculum,” he said.
With low reporting persisting, the government is considering a deadline extension to ensure that all learners join senior secondary schools.
“Nationwide, the Grade 10 transition process is proceeding smoothly. With 1.5 million available spaces for 1.1 million learners, we remain confident of achieving full enrollment. While the official reporting deadline is tomorrow, we are considering provisions for latecomers to ensure no learner is left behind,” Bitok said.
