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Grade 10: 20,000 learners jostle for 500 slots at Alliance, Kenya High and Mang’u
Alliance High School, The Kenya High School and Mang'u are among C1 schools that registered overwhelming demand from learners.
Some 143,821 Grade 9 learners who sought to revise their senior school placements have had their requests rejected due to the absence of preferred subject combinations or lack of capacity in the selected schools, the Ministry of Education has announced.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said that out of 355,457 applications for review received after the initial placement results were released on December 19, only 211,636 were approved.
He cited overwhelming demand for top national schools currently classified as C1, such as Alliance High School, Kenya High School and Mang’u High School, each of which received up to 20,000 applications despite having an average capacity of only 500 students.
The CS said the placement of learners to Grade 10 of Senior School commenced on December 14, 2025, and ran until December 19, 2025, when the placement results were released.
“Learners were allowed the opportunity to apply for a review of the initial placement from December 23, 2025. The processing of applications for review was concluded on December 29, 2025, and the results are now available on the placement portal,” Mr Ogamba said in a statement to newsrooms.
Mr Ogamba said a total of 88 per cent of learners have been placed in line with their original or revised selections.
Dissatisfied learners, Mr Ogamba said, will still have an opportunity to apply for a further review from January 6, 2026, to January 9, 2026. The 1.13 million inaugural KJSEA candidates are expected to report to senior schools on January 12, 2026.
Following the initial placement, a total of 355,457 applications for review were received, with each learner allowed to lodge up to four applications.
“Upon consideration, applications by 211,636 learners have been approved. The other applications have been declined largely due to the absence of the preferred subject combinations or the lack of capacity in the selected schools,” Mr Ogamba said.
He said the learners have been advised accordingly.
“There were, for example, up to 20,000 applications for schools like Alliance High School, Kenya High School and Mang’u High School, against an average capacity of 500 slots,” he said.
'National schools mentality'
The Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA) chairman, Fuad Ali, said many parents still have a national schools mentality.
“The mentality for national schools is still there; it will take time. But schools are now categorised as pathways — STEM, Arts and Sports, or Social Sciences,” Mr Ali said.
The National Parents Association chairperson, Silas Obuhatsa, said some parents are still yearning for national schools because the State categorised schools into clusters 1, 2, 3 and 4. He said parents lack knowledge and information on CBE implementation, transition, grading systems and school categorisation.
He urged the State to empower the NPA to sensitise parents holistically on CBE implementation to avoid future challenges, noting that parents are major stakeholders in the sector.
“In CBE, we thought the issue of grading schools was no longer applicable, but the State came up with categorisation. However, children are being shaped to be self-reliant through talent and skills. All schools are equal — whether a child is in Alliance or Bungoma High School. In CBE, all schools are equal,” Mr Obuhatsa said.
However, Mr Obuhatsa, an alumnus of Mang’u High School, said national schools expose children to the national grid.
“If I had gone to a village school, I am sure I wouldn’t be the chairman. In the village, I am respected because I went to a national school. I learned with children from all parts of the country,” he said.
On the rejection of placements, Mr Obuhatsa said the government had its reasons.
“Parents should listen to the government so that the placement process can be completed,” he added.
Mr Ogamba said that at present, 51 per cent of learners have been placed in the STEM pathway, 38 per cent in the Social Sciences pathway, and 11 per cent in the Arts and Sports Science pathway.
The CS said joining instructions are available for download from December 30, 2025, on the placement portal.
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