MoE new rules of admission, transfer of students amid school riots

The Ministry of Education, (MoE) has unveiled strict new guidelines on student transfers, warning principals against admitting students involved in indiscipline or strikes without proper clearance.

In a letter dated September 30, 2025, and signed by Kericho County Director of Education, Julius A. Ngoneshi, all school heads have been instructed not to admit any student without a valid transfer letter signed by the relevant education authorities.

“No school shall admit a student without a letter of transfer signed by the Sub County Director of Education (SCDE), the County Director of Education (CDE), and the Director of Secondary Education and Special Programmes, as applicable,” The MoE Director stated.

The MoE circular further outlined a clear transfer protocol stating that transfers within a sub-county require SCDE approval, transfers between counties must be authorized by the CDE, transfers across regions must be approved by the Regional Director of Education (RDE), and those to national schools must be sanctioned by the Director of Secondary Education.

MoE has also directed Principals to provide release letters for transferring students, with a full disclosure of their conduct.

ALSO READ:

Student should get it right on new grading system

“A principal who covers up a student’s conduct shall be held responsible for any subsequent problems,” Ngoneshi warned.

Additionally, any school with vacancies must initiate the process by issuing a transfer request letter to the student’s former school. “All transfer requests for the following academic year must be received by October 30th of the preceding year, and mid-year transfers are only allowed under special circumstances.” Said the MoE letter.

Ngoneshi expressed concern that some principals are bypassing these procedures, admitting students who were involved in strikes or who have unresolved disciplinary issues.

“Some of these students have serious discipline issues that have not been addressed by their respective Boards of Management,” said Ngoneshi adding that such actions undermine efforts to maintain order and accountability in schools.

The MoE is calling for strict adherence to the transfer guidelines, amid growing concerns over rising indiscipline and the unrests in schools in the South-Rift with the latest incident being Litein Boys High school which left the school grappling with losses amounting to millions.

The strict rules aim to address possible illegal transfer and admission of students who have a history of indiscipline.

-Kimutai Langat