The Kenyan Ministry of Education has introduced a formal period during which parents and students can request changes to senior school placements following the release of Grade Nine results under the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. This move aims to address concerns from families who were anxious about initial assignments to schools and learning pathways. Officials have emphasised that the process is learner-oriented and designed to ensure that every student ends up in a suitable academic environment.
The transfer window follows the recent announcement of placements based on the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA). About 49 percent of nearly 1.1 million learners were placed in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathways, 40 percent in Social Sciences and 11 percent in the Arts and Sports Science pathway. These placements are part of the first nationwide rollout of CBE, which uses a weighted assessment model combining KJSEA results, Grade Six results and school-based assessments from Grades Seven and Eight.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged that this initial CBE placement would not be perfect, so the government has established a revision portal where parents and students can submit transfer requests. Requests must be made through the student’s junior school head using the learner’s unique KJSEA assessment number. Approvals are dependent on senior schools declaring available spaces through county or sub-county education directors.
To initiate a transfer request, parents and guardians must submit official documentation including the student’s birth certificate and KJSEA result slip. Learners also need to indicate their preferred learning pathway and subject combinations as tested in the KJSEA examinations. The process requires submission at least two weeks before the reporting date of January 12, 2026, and approval will be based on capacity at the senior school and student performance in the relevant subjects.
Once a transfer is approved, joining instructions are issued through the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS). Printed letters from schools are no longer permitted for replacement cases. The Ministry has stressed that the revision window will remain open for at least two weeks and may continue even after learners report to their new schools to ensure that all concerns are resolved.
Officials explained that the CBE placement approach differs significantly from the old 8-4-4 system that relied on a single final score. Under CBE, student placement reflects strengths in specific subjects relevant to the chosen pathway rather than an aggregate total. The Kenya National Examinations Council noted that confusion among parents stemmed from comparisons with the earlier placement model.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok noted that the government used an equitable allocation model to place learners, considering population, poverty levels and regional balance. Despite challenges with limited spaces in popular schools and some misalignment of communication, the Ministry expects all learners to secure placements by Christmas and transition smoothly in January 2026.
Education stakeholders have urged families to prioritise suitability of learning pathways over school prestige. Career guidance professionals and analysts have advised parents to consider the match between a student’s skills and the pathway offered, as well as to look beyond their home counties when weighing options.
