The Ministry of Education (MoE) has approved a new procedure allowing principals of senior schools to place transfer requests for learners seeking to join their institutions, following a meeting between the Director of Senior School Education and field officers.
Under the new guidelines, senior school principals have been granted access to an online portal to facilitate learner transfers in a bid to streamline the placement process and address challenges faced by students wishing to move to different schools.
According to the Ministry, any learner seeking a transfer must present an official admission letter from the school where they were initially placed.
The admission letter contains a unique Admission Key, which is a mandatory requirement for initiating the transfer request.
Once the learner presents the required documents, the receiving school principal will enter the learner’s assessment number, the Admission Key indicated on the joining instructions and the reason for the transfer into the system.
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Upon submission, the request will be processed and approved through the portal, after which the learner will automatically appear on the new school’s admission list.
The MoE has, however, emphasized that no transfer request will be considered without the learner’s joining instructions.
Principals have been cautioned to strictly adhere to this requirement to avoid irregular admissions.
On subject combinations, the Ministry, further clarified that any changes will be handled at the school level after the learner has officially reported and completed the admission process.
This measure is intended to give schools flexibility while ensuring that subject placement aligns with available facilities and the learner’s academic ability.
The transfer portal was opened on January 6 and will remain accessible until January 9, giving schools a limited window to process all transfer requests.
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Education officials have urged principals and parents to act promptly within the stipulated period to avoid last-minute complications.
MoE has also noted that the new procedure is part of ongoing reforms under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and accountability in learner placement and management.
Field officers have been directed to provide technical support to schools during the process and to report any challenges encountered for immediate resolution.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a smooth transition for learners into senior schools and called on all education stakeholders to cooperate in implementing the new guidelines.
By Philip Koech
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