Dear reader, when parents received Grade 10 Placements on Friday, December 19, 2025, some felt bad about it. Somehow, the process triggered shock, disappointment and anxiety. Then, there was a flicker of hope when the MoE opened a 7-day window for revision of placements, which should run from December 23rd to 30th, 2025. On the second day of review, requests rose to around 177,000.
Initially, there was a technical hitch at the Konza control station, where the placement system is stationed. Through it all, parents have been assured that the portal will remain in operation 24 hours daily: to allow Grade 9 parents to submit requests at a convenient time. Parents cannot do transfers on their own. Only ICT officers and Heads of Junior Schools can access the system. Heads of Junior Schools have been directed to be available throughout the 7-day review window so as to assist parents in navigating the system.
To enhance efficiency, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has devolved the responsibility. For instance, all the C1 (national) Senior Schools approvals are to be handled at the headquarters in Nairobi. The C2 (extra-county) Senior Schools approvals are to be handled by the 8 Regional Directors of Education (RDEs) in the country. The 47 County Directors of Education (CDEs) will handle C3 (county) Senior Schools approvals. Then, the 400 Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDE) will tackle the C4 (Sub-County) Senior Schools approvals.
It is instructive to note. While seeking transfers, no physical letters will be picked in the Senior Schools of preference. When reporting to Senior Schools on January 12, 2026, the newbies should wield official letters generated from the system. Parents must remain alert so that they are not deceived by cheats and cartels taking advantage of ignorant and gullible people to mint money from the process. The reality is, all vacancy declarations and subsequent admissions must be reflected on the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), guaranteeing learners get government capitation, cushioning parents while paying school fees.
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Consequently, when vacancies are declared, priority is given to students who had initially selected that school during the initial selection of schools before sitting for the KJSEA assessment. More importantly, in the new system, the learner seeking review is allowed to select a maximum of 4 alternative Senior Schools. The learner can select the Senior School of choice plus the additional 3 Senior Schools to maximise chances of securing a preferred placement.
Then, as a scribe, this is how I see it. There are some realities parents must just accept. Taking stock of Senior Schools in the country, we have only 204 C1 (national) Senior Schools, 692 C2 (extra-county) Senior Schools, 1,373 C3 (county) Senior Schools 7, and 234 C4 (sub-county) Senior Schools. Therefore, the meta-analysis of that data depicts: We have a few C1 and C2 Senior Schools in Kenya. Yet, they are the most popularly preferred schools. Somewhat, by balancing optimism with realism, it may be a bit tricky to secure a transfer from C2 or C3 or C4 to C1 Senior School.
Therefore, parents should start coming to terms with the possible outcomes in the whole revision process; initiating a transfer or placement from Senior School X may not be an automatic guarantee of getting Senior School Y. This is an automated system that generates another available option, such as Z. The one-time process is irreversible.
Moreover, follow me in this train of thought. Now, in case the learner decides to change from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Pathway to Social Sciences Pathway or Arts and Sports Science Pathway, at the zenith of Senior School, after sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) in Grade 12, KUCCPS will still consider the Pathway cluster in relation to choice of courses offered in tertiary institutions – universities and colleges. Different stages of learning in CBE are linked like a continuous chain. Senior School (Grade 10-12) is the Pre-Career or Specialisation stage. Therefore, it is absence of sense to transfer to another school without the Pathway in mind. To wend that way can be confusing.
Ipso facto, the transfer request must be anchored on real reasons. For instance, the long distance from home to school to avoid travel barriers. But the obsession with the popularity of Senior Schools is utterly wrong. Some parents think only about the popular C1 and C2 Senior Schools. I mean, even those whose children do not merit to be in such a coterie of schools.
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Just to be blunt about it. Being a peripatetic speaker in schools in over 40 counties, sometimes I meet and interact with learners struggling to adjust, adapt and advance in some schools. Therefore, advisedly, parents should take children to Senior Schools matching their abilities. After all, jostling to join popular C1 Senior Schools is not the masterstroke for peak performance in formative School-Based Assessments (SBA) in Grades 10 and 11. Or the summative KCBE in Grade 12. Yes, intelligence is determined by nature, nurture and culture. But also, places do not make people, but people make places. A lizard in Africa cannot be a crocodile in America.
Finally, most popular C1 Senior Schools parents are hell-bent to take their children to have big brands because of heroic culture and tradition, which only works for learners who can attain a jig-saw fit after admission. Joining the school is one thing. Fitting there firmly is another thing. For we have heard of parents who cut corners, and take their children to schools above their abilities. Thereafter, the children fail to cope with high academic pressure therein. This is a reality parents must accept. Yes, precious things are products of pressure, not pleasure. But as water welters in pipes with force, it all depends on the texture and toughness of the pipe. A strong pipe can cope with high pressure. Whereas the weak pipe succumbs to the pressure as water swishes into it with might.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ is a Career Educator. For guidance and advice, call or WhatsApp: 0704420232
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