More than 100,000 Grade 10 learners have requested a review of their senior secondary school placements, raising concerns over the automated system used to transition students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The Ministry of Education revealed that within just one day of opening the review portal on December 23, it had received over 100,000 appeals.
However, only about 2,000 applications had been processed and approved, with officials urging parents and students to remain patient as the review exercise continues.
The unexpectedly high number of appeals has sparked debate, with critics arguing that although the placement system worked efficiently from a technical standpoint, it failed to reflect the real-life circumstances of many families.
In response to the complaints, the Ministry opened a seven-day window allowing learners to request changes to their assigned senior schools and pathways.
Education officials explained that the placement system relied on learners’ subject choices, academic performance, and available school vacancies, with the goal of promoting fairness and equity nationwide.
Despite this, many parents raised concerns that key factors such as school fees, distance from home, and household finances were overlooked.
Some parents said the institutions their children were assigned were unaffordable, while others pointed out that placements far from home would create additional transport and accommodation burdens.
There were also complaints from families whose children were placed in pathways that did not align with their abilities or career expectations, exposing gaps in understanding of CBC pathways during the school selection process.
Addressing parents and learners, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba encouraged those dissatisfied with the outcomes to take advantage of the review window, noting that adequate capacity exists across institutions to absorb all learners.
“Any parent who feels their child was placed in an unsuitable school or pathway has seven days to make the necessary adjustments,” Ogamba said.
Education stakeholders in various counties have welcomed the move, saying the review period will help families better understand the CBC system and allow learners to transition into schools that match their strengths, interests, and circumstances.
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