NAIROBI, Kenya- As 1.13 million Grade 10 learners prepare to report to senior school under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, fresh concerns have emerged over illegal levies, placement errors, and infrastructure gaps, threatening to undermine what the government has described as a historic education milestone.
Kenya on Monday officially transitions its first cohort of CBE learners into senior school, where students will pursue one of three pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports.
Ministry of Education data shows that more than half of the learners selected STEM, while 437,000 opted for Social Sciences and 124,000 chose Arts and Sports.
Civil Society Raises Alarm Over Illegal Fees
However, civil society groups have warned that thousands of learners risk missing out on senior school altogether due to illegal levies and systemic weaknesses in the placement process.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Deputy Executive Director Cornelius Oduor said parents were being exposed to corruption following failures in the online placement system.
“Approximately 1.13 million CBC/CBE pioneer students will be reporting to senior school on Monday, but the majority face a risk of missing their slots due to a systemic failure of the online placement system that has exposed parents to corruption,” Oduor said.
KHRC reported cases where schools are demanding unauthorised payments, including remedial fees, teacher motivation fees, and replacement costs for lost textbooks—charges not provided for under the Free Day Secondary Education policy.
The group further alleged that some learners’ Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) transcripts have been withheld over unpaid illegal levies, directly infringing on the right to education.
Placement Errors and Overcrowding
Placement challenges have also compounded the crisis. According to the lobby group, some learners were assigned pathways that do not match their interests or abilities, while others were placed in far-flung day schools, contrary to proximity guidelines.
The backlash has been significant. By December 2025, 355,457 learners had applied for placement reviews, with 143,821 appeals rejected, largely due to overcrowding in preferred schools.
KHRC has called on the Ministry of Education to urgently:
- Resolve placement anomalies
- Conduct a nationwide audit of school infrastructure
- Review the automated placement system to enhance transparency
- Ban withholding of academic transcripts over illegal levies
- Establish a whistleblower mechanism to report corruption in admissions
Government Assurances Amid Challenges
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok acknowledged parental concerns, confirming that the ministry is conducting a second review of Grade 10 placements to address errors and appeals.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has also moved to reassure parents, teachers and learners, insisting that measures are in place to ensure a smooth transition despite the hurdles.
Ogamba described the Grade 10 rollout as a defining moment in Kenya’s education history, marking the formal shift from the 8-4-4 system to a skills-oriented, learner-centred model.
“The transition to competency-based assessment marks a decisive step forward, shifting our focus from rote memorisation to the demonstration of skills, values, and knowledge that empower learners to thrive in the modern world,” Ogamba said.
While acknowledging setbacks—including infrastructure shortages, teacher deficits and early resistance to reforms—the CS maintained that progress was being made.
“With infrastructure expansion, teacher recruitment, improved financing, and policy reforms underway, the foundation has been laid for a smoother and more credible transition under CBE,” he added.
Textbooks and Teacher Gaps Still Loom
The transition also faces practical constraints. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) have begun printing 35 approved Grade 10 textbooks following the release of Sh5.64 billion by the government.
KPA Chairperson Kiarie Kamau said 50pc of the books will reach schools by January 16, with full distribution expected by January 31, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has warned of acute shortages, estimating a need for:
- 35,000 STEM teachers
- 14,600 Social Sciences teachers
- 8,778 Arts and Sports teachers
TSC Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei assured parents that recruitment plans are underway, but admitted some schools remain under-equipped.
As Kenya embarks on this ambitious education overhaul, stakeholders warn that unless illegal levies, placement flaws and resource gaps are urgently addressed, the promise of CBE risks being overshadowed by inequality and access barriers.
