By Obegi Malack
Grade Six learners have begun selecting their preferred Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs) after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) opened the portal on Monday 15th.
The portal will remain open until August 30th to allow the learners to do the selection in readiness for placement next year.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Njeng’ere says the learners do not have to wait for schools to open to select their preferred JSSs.
The learners with guidance of their teachers are required to select two national schools, two regional schools, two county schools, four sub-county schools and two private schools of their choice – the same criterion that is used in selection of secondary schools by class eight learners.
The key considerations and requirements for selection and placement of learners in JSSs in 2023 include placement in all existing registered public and private secondary schools and public secondary schools which share a compound with a public primary school which will utilize the available classrooms in the primary school as additional learning space.
Private schools were requested to construct more than 5,000 classrooms to accommodate the JSS by January next year. Learners who select privately owned schools will be required to pay fees charged by the schools.
The ministry has already completed construction of 7,000 classrooms for the JSS in public secondary schools and identified 2,300 public primary schools that share a compound with secondary schools that will host JSSs.
Education Cabinet secretary Prof George Magoha said KNEC will administer a summative assessment to all the 2022 Grade 6 learners from 28th to 30th November 2022.
The assessment will contribute 40% of a learner’s score as they transit to Junior Secondary School. KNEC will assess the thirteen (13) subjects offered at Upper Primary level using five (5) papers constituted as follows: Mathematics, English language, Kiswahili/Kenyan sign language, Integrated Science (combines 4 subjects) and Creative Arts and Social Studies (combines 4 subjects).
Learners with special needs who are able to follow the regular pathway will have their Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) papers adapted based on their area of special needs
In compliance with the 100% Transition Policy, all learners will be placed in Junior Secondary School institutions
In January 2023, approximately 2,512,467 learners are expected to join Secondary Education in accordance with the Government policy on 100% Transition of learners in Basic Education. These include 1,268,830 learners enrolled in Grade 6 in 2022 who will transition to JSS (Grade 7) under the CBC; and 1,243,637 Standard 8 cohort of 2022 who will transition to Form 1 under the 8:4:4 system.
