Funyula Member of Parliament Dr Ojiambo Oundo has raised concerns over the recent re-categorisation of public secondary schools by the Ministry of Education, questioning the exclusion of prominent schools in his constituency from national school status.
In a formal statement to the National Assembly, approved on June 19, 2025, Dr. Oundo requested clarification from the Ministry on the criteria used for assigning schools to new clusters.
The Ministry recently introduced guidelines for re-categorising secondary schools in preparation for the transition of Grade 9 learners to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) starting in 2026.
Though the guidelines have not been officially published, a document outlining the categorisation of schools into Clusters C1 to C5 has been widely circulated online. Only two schools in Busia County, Butula Boys High School and Kolanya Girls High School, have reportedly been elevated to Cluster C1 national school status.
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Dr. Oundo expressed disappointment that no school in Funyula Constituency had been elevated, despite consistently achieving academic performance.
He specifically mentioned Sigalame High School and St. Cecilia Nangina Girls High School as deserving candidates. Sigalame High School, established in 1965, has over 1,000 students and an average KCSE mean score of 6.9 over the past three years. St. Cecilia Nangina Girls High School, with more than 1,400 students, has maintained an average mean score of 6.8 and recorded a score of 7.031 in the 2024 KCSE, ranking 7th in Busia County.
In his statement, Dr Oundo requested the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education to provide a report on the criteria used for the re-categorisation exercise.
He also asked whether the Ministry would consider elevating Sigalame and St. Cecilia Nangina to Cluster C1, given their academic performance and long-standing reputations. Additionally, he called for clarification on the possible elevation of other schools in Busia County, such as Samia Girls, Nyakwaka Girls, St. Peter’s Busibi, and St. Aquinas Nanderema Boys, which serve as safe spaces for vulnerable learners.
Dr Oundo emphasised the importance of fairness and transparency in the re-categorisation process, particularly as the education sector undergoes significant reforms under the CBC. The Ministry is yet to respond to the concerns raised, but the issue is expected to prompt broader debate in Parliament and among education stakeholders.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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