NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Education has approved over 150,000 transfer requests for Grade 9 learners ahead of the pioneer Competency-Based Education (CBE) transition to Senior Secondary School.
With the official reporting date set for January 12, 2026, Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok revealed that the ministry received an overwhelming 350,000 applications during a seven-day review window.
Of these, 200,000 cases were processed, resulting in 150,000 successful movements to alternative institutions.
The PS emphasized that the remaining requests were declined primarily due to limited capacity in high-demand schools and strict adherence to merit-based placement rules.
“Out of more than 350,000 requests, the ministry has processed over 200,000 applications, with more than 150,000 learners approved and successfully moved to their new schools,” Bitok stated. He reassured parents that students whose transfer requests were unsuccessful must report to their original placement schools, noting that “no student had lost a placement.”
The 2026 cohort marks a historic milestone as the first group of CBE learners to enter Grade 10. A total of 1.13 million learners are expected to join Senior Secondary Schools across the country.
Placement into the various tiers – National (C1), Extra County (C2), County (C3), and Sub-County (C4) – was determined by a weighted score.
This included 60 percent from the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) results released earlier this month, 20 percent from school-based assessments in Grades 7 and 8, and 20 percent from the initial Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
Reporting Requirements
To ensure a smooth admission process on January 12, the Ministry has issued a strict checklist of required documentation. Parents and guardians must provide:
-
The original admission letter signed by the school Director.
-
A copy of the student’s birth certificate.
-
Two passport-sized photos of the student.
-
A clear passport photo of the school location and a school map for confirmation.
-
A passport photo of the parent/guardian for emergency contact verification.
Placement letters are currently available for download via the official online portal using the learners’ assessment numbers.
New Grading, No Certificates
Prof. Bitok also clarified a key departure from the phased-out 8-4-4 system. Unlike the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Grade 9 graduates will not receive certificates. Instead, they will be issued result slips detailing their performance levels across different subjects.
As the review window officially closed on Monday, the Ministry is currently evaluating whether to grant a brief extension for the remaining unprocessed cases. However, the January 12 reporting date remains firm for both public and private institutions.
The transition to Senior School will see learners specialize in various pathways, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Arts and Sports, or Social Sciences, depending on the double or triple-pathway options available at their assigned schools.
