Concerns have emerged over the ongoing Grade 10 placement exercise, with parents and teachers pointing to several grey areas they want urgently addressed by the government and education stakeholders.
Among the issues raised are cases where learners who posted very high marks in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) have been placed in day secondary schools, while others have been assigned to schools that do not match their gender.
There are also complaints that senior secondary school heads are receiving admission lists without learners’ marks, making it difficult to assess placement fairness.
The Meru South Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Branch Executive Secretary Albert Njeru Mutani, said the anomalies risk undermining confidence in the placement process despite the success recorded under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
Speaking to the media in Chuka town, Tharaka Nithi County, Mutani, who also serves as a KNUT National Trustee, called on the government and stakeholders to strengthen support for the 100 per cent transition policy to ensure all learners seamlessly move to the next level.
“Our children have successfully transitioned through all the levels, and the beauty of CBE is that it ensures 100 per cent progression,” Mutani said, noting that about 1.1 million learners sat the KJSEA examinations.
Catherine Kimaita, a parent who hails from Timau in Buuri Sub County lamented that her son was placed at a Day school in Igoji, South Imenti several kilometres away from home.
She said she was not aware about the career-based pathways as per the CBE.
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While lauding the policy, Mutani raised concerns over emerging challenges threatening its sustainability, including delays in capitation disbursement, lack of school feeding programmes and the rising cost of school uniforms.
“Feeding programmes and timely release of capitation are critical. Without them, many children risk dropping out. Uniforms have also become a major burden for some families. In its programme planning, the government should consider providing them in the future,” he said.
On placement procedures, Mutani reminded parents that official admission letters are accessible through the Ministry of Education placement portal and advised those seeking school transfers to visit the respective institutions for principals to update the system.
“Do not buy school supplies before your child is officially admitted and captured in the system, as it might end up being a loss to you,” he cautioned.
He appealed to financial institutions, county governments, community-based organisations and well-wishers to support learners advancing to Grade 10, saying many top-performing students come from vulnerable backgrounds and require financial assistance.
At the same time, he urged school principals to be sensitive to parents’ economic hardships by allowing flexible fee payment arrangements.
He reassured parents that there was no need for panic, noting that there were enough schools and vacancies to accommodate every learner who sat the KJSEA.
Mutani also highlighted a shortage of senior secondary school teachers, warning that the deficit could affect the quality of education as learners transition to higher grades.
However, he commended the Kenya Kwanza administration for employing 76,000 Junior Secondary School teachers and for releasing capitation funds ahead of school reopening.
By John Majau
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