The government has been urged to intervene as several category four schools—formerly known as sub-county schools—face a severe enrolment crisis during the ongoing Grade 10 transition under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Across the country, many schools reopened to receive learners transitioning to senior school only to find classrooms nearly empty. Some institutions have reported receiving no students at all.
In Machakos County, the transition has been particularly sluggish. By Wednesday, January 14—the third day of the reporting period—some schools had admitted only three or four learners, while others remained completely empty despite having capacity to enroll more than 100 students.
Headteachers have attributed the low turnout to the new placement system, noting that many students assigned to their schools come from distant regions. They also cite the placement review and transfer window opened by the Ministry of Education as a major contributing factor.
“The education offered in so-called ‘big schools’ is the same as what we provide here. The teachers are trained in the same universities, by the same lecturers, and follow the same curriculum,” said one teacher.
While category four schools struggle with minimal admissions, top-tier institutions—formerly national and regional schools—have reported a smooth transition with high learner turnout. Some of these schools have even exceeded their intake capacity, forcing parents to return home with students despite having official placement letters.
Following public outrage over learners being placed in schools far from their homes or in institutions they did not prefer, the Ministry of Education opened a review window allowing parents and students to request reassessment of placements.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, while releasing the 2025 KJSEA results, explained that the review period was intended to give parents, guardians, and learners an opportunity to seek adjustments to their senior school placements under the CBC.
However, teachers in category four schools—especially those in rural areas—argue that the review period has further worsened the situation by encouraging students to move to higher-ranked schools.
They are now calling on the government to act swiftly, warning that continued low enrolment could lead to school closures, staff redeployment, or reduced funding.
The placement review window is set to close on January 16, with the first Grade 10 transition expected to conclude by Friday.
