More Than 100,000 Grade 10 Students Seek Review of School Placements

More than 100,000 Grade 10 students have appealed their secondary school placements within 24 hours of the review process opening. 

This highlights issues with the automated system designed to manage the transition under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The surge in placement appeals has raised concerns over the effectiveness of the system, which was intended to ensure fairness by considering factors such as academic performance, learner preferences, and school availability. 

By the end of the first day, only 2,000 of the appeals had been processed, prompting officials to urge patience as they work through the backlog. Despite the volume of requests, the Ministry of Education has reassured families that all students will be accommodated once the review process is complete.

Parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the system, citing concerns that the algorithm failed to account for critical factors such as proximity to home, financial affordability, and the individual strengths of students. Some families reported difficulties in meeting the fees of the schools their children were assigned to, while others faced added transport and accommodation costs due to placements far from their home counties. 

These issues have raised questions about the accessibility of education despite the availability of school places. Further criticisms have focused on the suitability of the CBC pathways, with some parents arguing that their children were placed in streams that did not align with their abilities or future aspirations. 

In response, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced a seven-day window for learners and parents to adjust their placement choices. Ogamba assured families that the ministry’s infrastructure could handle the changes, providing an opportunity to align students with institutions better suited to their talents and interests.