The Ministry of Education (MoE) has confirmed that more than 150,000 Grade 9 learners have successfully changed their Senior School placements ahead of the January 12, 2026, reporting date.
Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok said the ministry received over 350,000 revision requests during the seven-day review window that closed on Monday. Of these, more than 200,000 were processed, with 150,000 approved based strictly on merit and available capacity. Bitok noted that learners whose requests were declined will still report to their original schools, assuring parents that no student has lost a placement.
“Out of more than 350,000 requests, the ministry has processed over 200,000 applications, with more than 150,000 learners approved and successfully moved to their new schools. What we are doing after the window closes today is taking time to review the remaining cases and then decide whether an extension will be allowed,” Bitok said.
He explained that students are showing strong interest in transfers both horizontally and vertically within the system. “Their movements are happening across the system,” he added, emphasising that every learner already has a school, and those not approved will report to their original placements.
Bitok confirmed that all 1.13 million Grade 9 learners are expected to report to their respective schools on January 12, 2026. The ministry has also outlined the Grade 10 admission process, setting clear timelines and documentation requirements for the pioneer Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort.
RELATED:
Grade 10 placement revision: Opting for less popular C1 schools increases approval chances
Placement letters and instructions are available online using learners’ assessment numbers following the release of the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) results in December 2025.
Learners reporting to senior secondary schools must present the original admission letter signed by the school director, a copy of their birth certificate, two passport-sized photos for school records, and a clear passport photo of the school location, accompanied by a school map. Parents or guardians are also required to provide one clear passport photo to complete verification and serve as an emergency contact.
The Ministry stressed that the timely submission of documents is essential to guarantee a smooth enrolment process as schools prepare to admit the new Grade 10 class under the CBE system.
Parents and guardians have been urged to prepare early and ensure all required documents are ready to avoid delays during admission.
The ministry plans to reopen the revision portal between January 6 and 9 to give dissatisfied candidates another opportunity to apply.
By Masaki Enock
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
