The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised serious concerns over the hiccups that are facing the current transition from Junior to Senior School at Grade 10 in January 2026, stating that the placement of learners to senior schools was system-driven.
Speaking to Education News on December 31, 2025, KUPPET Busia Executive Secretary Moffat Okisai said that several students and parents are dissatisfied with the haphazard manner in which the placement was conducted, adding that there was not much consideration to merit, environmental, social, cultural, economic and proximity of learners to the placed senior schools.
According to Okisai, the Ministry of Education (MoE) should trust the school principals with the mandate and freedom to upload the details of students seeking admission in their schools, after considering the existing vacancies in a school.
Thereafter, the principal should issue an admission letter unconditionally, and after the school hits its maximum admission capacity, the system can close automatically.
“After all, NEMIS data is monitored in real time. Some schools in category C3 (formerly county schools) and C4 (formerly sub-county Schools) risk not attracting learners because of the poor and rigid placement model. There’s an urgent need for flexibility. We appreciate the use of NEMIS to eliminate ghost learners because government capitation will follow the learners,” said Okisai.
ALSO READ:
MoE sets strict staffing limits for Non‑teaching personnel in public Senior Schools
“To enhance 100% transition and retention, we urge the MOE to allow the NEMIS system to remain open until all learners have transitioned to grade 10 and schools of their choice. Similarly, since learners’ interests can easily change, transfer of schools and pathways should be seamless,” he added.
The KUPPET Busia boss observed that parents and learners have been frustrated by the systemic digital failures, noting that before the revision of grade 10 vacancies, especially in C1 (national schools) category schools, the MOE should publicly declare the number of existing vacancies.
“Parents have revised blindly when it’s apparent that all slots have been allotted & allocated. It therefore becomes an exercise in futility. We expect that the MOE makes a bold declaration of the vacancies in premier schools like Kenya High School, Starehe, Maseno, Alliance, Kamusinga, among others. This will give any parent the confidence to revise from an informed point,” said Okisai.
By Roy Hezron
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
