MoE expands senior school selection to include private institutions

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced plans to integrate private secondary schools into the placement system for Grade 10 learners, marking a shift from the traditional selection process that largely favoured public institutions.

The new model, which will be used for the January 2026 transition under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework, allows learners to select both public and private schools. The ministry says the move aims to expand access, ease pressure on public schools, and promote fairness in learner placement.

Previously, school selection was done manually and focused almost entirely on public schools, leaving many private institutions underutilized despite their investment in modern classrooms, laboratories, and digital infrastructure.

Under the new system, private schools will appear alongside public ones, enabling learners to make informed choices based on performance, available capacity, and preferred career pathways.

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Education officials say the integration will make the transition smoother for the 1.13 million Grade Nine learners expected to complete junior school this year. With 2.4 million available spaces in Grade 10, the inclusion of private schools will not only widen options but also reduce competition for elite national institutions.

The digital platform, currently being piloted, will use performance data from the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) to match learners to schools. A short revision window will also be opened to allow candidates to update their school choices before final placement.

Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the move, saying it reflects growing collaboration between the government and private sector in implementing the CBE. They add that integrating private schools into a digital national platform marks a major step toward a more inclusive, technology-driven education system.

By Mercy Kokwon

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