When prestige costs your child’s future: Grade 10 parents gamble again with school choices

Every year, thousands of parents make a critical mistake: choosing a school for their child first and letting that decision dictate the subjects their child studies. While the allure of a prestigious school is understandable, this approach can seriously limit a child’s academic growth, motivation and career prospects.

This year, Grade 10 students across the country have felt the consequences of this decision. Parents who prioritized the school over the child’s subject combination often found their children locked into subjects that did not align with their interests or future career aspirations. The result? Stress, frustration and in some cases, doors to coveted careers quietly closed before students even reach university. Grade 9 parents, take note: it’s time to shift the focus.

Not every school offers the same subjects. Some schools specialize in sciences, others in technical or artistic fields and some simply have limited elective options. When parents select a school first, they risk forcing their child into a subject combination that doesn’t suit their strengths or ambitions. A child dreaming of engineering requires mathematics and physical science. A future doctor needs biology and chemistry. Yet a prestigious school might offer these subjects only in combination with others the student doesn’t need or worse, not at all. In such cases, the child is faced with a choice between a dream school and a dream career; a choice that should never be necessary.

Interest matters. Research consistently shows that students perform better in subjects they enjoy. Forcing a child to study a subject simply because a school offers it; or because the school is highly ranked; can lead to disengagement, poor grades and even burnout. Academic success is rarely about prestige; it’s about alignment between talent, interest and opportunity. Parents often underestimate the power of passion in shaping a student’s trajectory. A motivated student in the right subject combination will not only excel academically but also build the foundational skills necessary for their chosen career. A student in the wrong subjects may struggle and the frustration can spill over into other areas of life.

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The stakes are high. Many tertiary programs have strict prerequisites. Engineering programs demand high level mathematics and physical sciences. Medicine requires top marks in biology, chemistry and often mathematics. Business, IT, design and the arts all have specific subject requirements that cannot be ignored. Choosing the wrong combination in Grade 10 can have long term consequences. Changing subjects later is often complicated or impossible and trying to compensate with extra courses can be stressful and costly. Simply put, starting on the right path in Grade 10 is crucial.

So, what should Grade 9 parents do? The first step is understanding the child: their strengths, interests and career ambitions. This requires honest conversations, keen observation and sometimes professional guidance from career counselors. Once the child’s interests and potential pathways are clear, parents can identify which subjects are required to reach those goals. Only then should the search for a school begin. The right school is the one that accommodates the necessary subject combination; not the other way around. Parents should also consider schools that encourage exploration and flexibility. Some schools allow students to take elective subjects outside the standard timetable or offer enrichment programs that can supplement career focused learning. These options can be a lifeline for students whose interests don’t fit neatly into traditional subject groupings.

The mistakes of the current Grade 10 cohort provide a stark warning. Many students ended up in schools that were highly rated but poorly aligned with their goals. As a result, some had to abandon their preferred career paths, while others struggled academically. The message is clear: prestige is not a substitute for purpose. A school’s brand will not compensate for a misaligned subject combination. The future belongs to students whose education matches their passions and ambitions; not those who simply attend a ‘top’ school.

The key takeaways for parents are simple: know your child first by understanding their interests, strengths, and career goals; research the subjects required for tertiary education and future careers; prioritize schools that offer the right combination for your child rather than forcing your child to fit the school; encourage passion, because students thrive when they study what excites them; and plan early, because Grade 9 is the critical stage to get this right.

In the end, education is not about prestige; it’s about opportunity. Choosing the right subject combination and career pathway today open doors tomorrow. Choosing a school for the wrong reasons may close them forever. Grade 9 parents, the message is simple: let your child’s future lead the way; not the school’s reputation.

Angel Raphael is a teacher and education commentator on Kenya’s Competency Based Education reforms.