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From left: Pamella Awori, Mercy Wangari, Wabi Sherie and Joyce Were.
About 40 years ago, Pamella Awori, 60, woke up at 5 am for morning classes before attending school assemblies, a routine she faithfully honoured as the school head girl.
On this Monday morning, she woke up at 5 am again, this time at her home several kilometres away, determined to arrive at her former school before the principal.
The administration block that receives her today is far larger than the modest structure she remembers. The girls’ dormitory where she once slept and dreamed of becoming an air hostess no longer exists. Following an upgrade to C1 level, the once mixed school in Busia County is now a boys-only boarding institution.
Pamella Awori's grandson was allocated a C2 level school in Karatina. She is now looking for a C1 level school in Busia County.
“The infrastructure has really changed. Our administration block was very small, but now it is very big. There are more dormitories and no more crossing the road like we used to when going to the girls’ dormitory,” Awori tells Parenting.
As a student, she was among the top performers in her class. Those memories, and the foundation the school gave her, brought her back decades later after her 14-year-old grandson was placed in a C2 school following the release of Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results in December.
“I came to look for a school here in Busia for my grandchild because he was called to a boarding school in Karatina, which is far from home. It was not even among the schools he selected. He got all exceeding expectation scores, yet the school is C2 level. That is not what I expected after his good performance,” she says.
Awori says the search for a school for her grandson has been exhausting.
“My most frustrating moment was when the results came out during the holiday and the school allocated was not one he chose. I did not know what to do until schools reopened,” she says.
With the reporting date for the pioneer Grade 10 class under the Competency Based Education system approaching, Awori’s anxiety is increasing by the day.
“Some students have uploaded their letters, but others like my grandchild have not because they were placed in schools they did not want. I do not know when he will get a placement so that we can start preparing for admission. I also do not live near the school, so transport is also challenge,” she says.
Still, she remains hopeful.
“My grandchild wants to do STEM. To excel, we need a school where we will be confident that he will thrive and pursue his dream of becoming an engineer. I hope he secures a chance here and excels,” she says.
Mercy Wangari's daughter scored an impressive 65 points in the 2025 KJSEA exams but she was not placed in any of the schools she had selected.
While Awori waits with bated breath to secure her grandson’s placement, another parent is wondering what to tell her daughter who is yet to secure a slot for Grade10 despite passing her exams.
“We were very happy when our daughter scored 65 points. She was excited. The disappointment came when she was allocated a mixed day school far from where we live. It was not among the schools she selected,” says Mercy Wangari from Nakuru.
The placement disappointed both mother and daughter, who had hoped she would join a reputable girls’ boarding school.
“When she googled the school, she cried the whole day. I tried to console her in vain. She will only be at peace when I find her a girls’ boarding school.”
Unsuccessful trip
When schools reopened, Wangari drove to her daughter’s former school hoping teachers could revise the placement. However, more disappointment awaited her as she was informed that the schools her daughter selected were already full.
“Even the teachers seem unsure how the system works. They advised us to look for schools on our own,” she says.
The following day, Wangari and her daughter travelled to Thika, to one of the schools she had selected, in the hope of getting some breakthrough, but their trip was unsuccessful.
“We have not secured a place yet. We are moving from one school to another. This is a new system that we have not fully understood,” she says.
The search has also strained her finances.
“I run a motorbike spare parts business, but I have not reported to work for days now. I have been on the road since morning looking for a school. I will only settle after finding one,” she says.
She believes the system has failed many parents.
“If my daughter had been placed in one of her selected schools, I would be shopping for her requirements by now. Instead, we are moving up and down, incurring costs that we hadn’t budgeted for. At this point, it is about luck and trusting God,” she says.
With less than a week to reporting date, Wangari says she is left with limited options.
“I will take any girls’ boarding school I get, even if it is far from Nakuru,” she says.
Joyce Were's son was the top student at Makini School Kisumu after scoring 71 points in the 2025 KJSEA exams. However, he was not placed in any of the schools he chose.
In Kisumu County, Joyce Were is facing a similar dilemma with her third-born son.
“He was the top student at Makini School Kisumu. We knew he was hardworking, but when he exceeded expectations, we were very excited,” Joyce tells Parenting.
She participated in the school selection process alongside teachers who guided students based on their strengths. However, the Kenya Education Management Information System outcome was disappointing.
“To our surprise, the school allocated was not among the ones we chose. He scored 71 out of 72 points, so we expected one of his first choices. We had clear reasons for choosing those schools. It beats logic that a child performs so well and ends up in a school you never considered,” she says.
Immediately after the school placements came out, Joyce reached out to the class teacher who confirmed that there was room for revision. However, stories from other parents who were unsuccessfully in getting the schools they wanted made her fear a second disappointment.
“Private school was not part of our plan, but it is now our only option. It means more fees, but I chose peace over frustration,” she says.
Joyce says the cost burden reflects broader challenges of the CBC transition.
“Parents are needed for many assignments. Sometimes it is knitting, sometimes mosaics. You have to buy materials like glue and manila paper repeatedly, and it becomes costly,” she says.
Wabi Sherie, CEO and founder of Soma Siri Africa encourages parents to prioritise quality education that suits the child's pathway over the school's ranking or prestige.
Wabi Sherie, CEO and founder of Soma Siri Africa, urges parents to prioritise schools that nurture children’s talents rather than focusing only on academic prestige.
“CBC is not 8 4 4. It is about the gift and talent of each child, not just national school rankings,” she says.
She adds that CBC aligns with the African Union Vision 2065, which emphasises skills development and job creation.
“Africa needs competency. CBC links learners to careers they are interested in, not just grades,” she says.
While acknowledging parents’ efforts and aspirations for the children, Sherie encourages deeper research into schools that help children realise their potential.
“Every parent wants the best, but we must ask ourselves what best really means. Is it drilling children for exams, or nurturing their gifts so they can live out their purpose?” she says.
