Ministry of Education declined approximately 24,000 Grade 10 transfers.

By Webmaster Last updated Dec 28, 2025

Education officials say the high number of rejections is linked to strict placement rules and limited space in highly sought-after schools.

Thousands of Grade 10 learners seeking a change in their senior secondary school placements have hit a roadblock after the Ministry of Education declined close to 24,000 review requests midway through the exercise.

Education officials say the high number of rejections is linked to strict placement rules and limited space in highly sought-after schools.

As reported by the Daily Nation, by the fourth day of the seven-day review period, more than 86,000 applications had already been reviewed out of over 100,000 submitted.

Of these, 62,000 requests were approved, leaving nearly a quarter unsuccessful and forcing affected learners to explore other available schools.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the outcome reflects the growing competition for senior school slots, especially in top-performing institutions.

The review exercise was launched earlier this week through an online platform to allow parents and school administrators to request changes for learners unhappy with their initial school or learning pathway.

“The requests are still coming in. By Day Four of the review window, we have processed over 86,000 applications. Of these, 62,000 have been approved, while 24,000 have been declined, mainly due to the merit-based placement system and limited capacity in senior secondary schools,” Bitok said as quoted by the Daily Nation.

He explained that learners whose applications were declined still have options within the system, provided they reassess schools that have remaining vacancies. The ministry has encouraged families to make informed choices as the review window continues.

The ministry, the PS disclosed, was “urging parents and learners whose requests were not successful to carefully review the available options and reapply to schools with remaining spaces.”

“This is an important opportunity to secure a placement that aligns with the learner’s performance and aspirations,” Prof Bitok emphasised.

Earlier in the week, the Ministry of Education disclosed that it had received 177,000 placement review requests nationwide. At that stage, more than 30,000 applications had already been handled, with learners and parents receiving feedback on approvals and rejections.

Officials say the review period is meant to address placement concerns while keeping the process orderly and fair.

“Being a pioneer undertaking, the government appreciates and empathises with parents, learners, and other stakeholders’ anxieties and uncertainties around the transition to Grade 10,” Bitok said in a statement.

He said the ministry remains focused on ensuring confidence in the placement process as learners transition under the new education system.

He stressed the ministry’s focus on “making the placement process as transparent, fair, and satisfactory as possible.”

The PS vowed to take 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 as we collectively refine and strengthen CBE for the benefit of our learners,” the statement went on to say.

According to the ministry, the review covers about 9,000 senior schools listed on the placement portal. The system allows learners to request transfers quickly and from any location with internet access. Each learner applying for a review can select up to four alternative schools to increase their chances of securing a place.

For example, a learner initially placed at Kakamega High School but hoping to join Alliance High School may list Alliance as the first choice and select three other schools as alternatives.

“I want to urge everyone to be patient as we ensure that these are done properly, because these are children and it’s in our interest to get it right.

We want this transition to be as smooth as possible. We have seven days to complete the process, and the platform is available 24 hours a day, so requests can be submitted anytime—morning or night. By January 12, all learners will have joined their respective schools,” Bitok said.

To keep the process moving efficiently, the ministry has shared approval duties across different levels. Cluster One school requests are handled at the national headquarters, Cluster Two at the regional level, Cluster Three by county directors, and Cluster Four by sub-county directors.

“There are those who are interested in changing from STEM to social sciences, others want to change from social sciences to STEM, and others want to change from STEM to arts and sports, and vice versa. So we have requests across the board and from all over the country. I’m also happy to note that even as we process these revisions, we have delegated some responsibilities to our field officers,” he said while on a supervision visit at Naivasha Boys Boarding Junior School.

Ministry of Education declined approximately 24,000 Grade 10 transfers.

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Ministry of Education declined approximately 24,000 Grade 10 transfers.

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