The Ministry of Education will on Tuesday, December 23 open a seven-day review of senior school choices.
In a statement by Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok, candidates have been advised to take advantage of the review window to contact their Grade 9 schools or the Ministry’s sub-county and county offices through their respective heads of institutions.
The review, PS Bitok says, will be guided by an automated system that will match preferences to learners’ performance and the availability of slots in schools.
The decision to open a review window has been necessitated after a section of parents and candidates expressed dissatisfaction with the placements exercise.
“This is largely attributable to high competition and limited admission slots in popular schools, misaligned communication between parents, learners, and heads of institutions on selected schools, and variances between selected pathways and assessment outcomes,” PS Bitok says.
Being the pioneer Grade 9 class, PS Bitok says the government appreciates the fact that there is anxieties and uncertainties — among parents, learners and other stakeholders — 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,” PS Bitok noted. “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.”
Subsequent to the release of Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results on December 11, 2025, the Ministry undertook the placement of learners into senior schools (Grade 10), an exercise that was done using automated system that factors in learners’ choices, performance, and other considerations designed to promote merit, equity, and fairness in the allocation of available school spaces.
During the review window, candidates will also address issues of incorrect gender entries.
Assessing competencies
To assess learners’ competencies, the Competency Based Education (CBE) system relies on formative and summative assessments on a 20-20-60 percent basis. Twenty (20) percent of the assessment is formative based on Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in grade 6, while another 20 percent is based on continuous assessment by teachers in grade 7 and 8. The balance of 60 percent is obtained in the KJSEA administered in Grade 9.
This staggered assessment provides a well-rounded and realistic evaluation of learners’ abilities, suitability, and readiness for a specific pathway.
The CBE is founded on the necessity of aligning the education system with National Development goals, global education trends, and the equipping of learners with relevant skills and competencies for a competitive local and international job market.
CBE focuses on preparing learners to pursue careers that match their manifest competencies with professional aspirations. It also de-escalates the focus on one-off examinations as a measure of learners’ true competencies.
