The Ministry of Education has enlisted the help of chiefs and local administrators to trace up to 400,000 Grade 10 learners who have not yet reported to school, despite the extension of the admission deadline to Wednesday, January 21.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government is determined to achieve 100 per cent transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10 and will now rely on grassroots leaders to identify learners who are still at home.
Over Half a Million Learners Already Registered
By Friday night, the ministry had recorded 550,000 learners out of the expected 1.13 million in the online admissions data portal. However, Mr Ogamba clarified that the actual number of learners who have already reported to school could be much higher.
He explained that many schools are still uploading data from physical admissions, and some regions have delayed reporting due to poor internet connectivity.
“Learners are still coming in. Many have already been admitted, attended orientation, and started classes, but their details are not yet fully captured in the system,” Ogamba said.
Chiefs to Visit Homes
The Education CS said the Ministry will work closely with the Ministry of Interior so that chiefs and assistant chiefs can visit homes to understand why some learners have not joined school and find ways to support them.
“The goal is to complete the transition fully. Chiefs and local administrators will help us identify the challenges these learners are facing and how best to assist them,” he said
Some Schools Under-Enrolled
Mr Ogamba also pointed out that some senior schools are experiencing low enrolment because they are not popular among students.
“We must face the reality that some schools are not preferred. Once this exercise is complete, we will review enrolment data and decide whether resources need to be redistributed or learners reallocated,” he noted.
A full report will be prepared showing how many students each school has received and whether adjustments are necessary.
Deadline Extended to Improve Reporting
The government extended the admission deadline to January 21 after delays in data consolidation, especially from Eastern and North Eastern regions, which had not submitted their final figures.
To address financial challenges, the Ministry said it is working with county governments to release bursary funds to ensure learners from needy families can report to school.
TSC Assures Parents on Quality of Education
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has urged parents to trust the senior school system, assuring them that teachers are ready to handle learners under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei said teachers are well trained and prepared to support learners transitioning from the 8-4-4 system.
“Our teachers are competent and ready. We know CBE has had challenges, but we are fully prepared to support learners,” she said.
Focus on Skills and Jobs
Ms Mitei added that CBE is designed to help learners develop practical and technical skills needed to create jobs and reduce unemployment.
“CBE encourages innovation, problem-solving, and creativity. Learners should discover their abilities early and pursue what they are good at,” she said.
