NAIROBI, Kenya — Some secondary schools could be closed or merged following low Grade 10 enrolment, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has warned, as the government moves to rationalise resources under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
Speaking on Tuesday during the Elimu Mashinani forum at Lavington Primary School, Ogamba said the Ministry of Education is analysing data from the ongoing Grade 10 placement exercise to identify schools that have attracted too few students to remain viable.
The warning comes amid growing concern over uneven student enrolment, with a small number of top-performing schools recording overwhelming demand while many others struggle to attract learners.
“The placement system reflects student choice. If students did not choose your school, the system would not place them there,” Ogamba said.
Under the current placement framework, Grade 9 learners select up to 12 schools across four categories, and placements are generated based on those preferences. According to the CS, the data emerging from the process paints a stark picture.
“We have schools where over 50,000 students are competing for only 700 slots, while others have virtually no applicants,” he said.
Ogamba noted that some schools may soon be left with only Form Three and Form Four classes, given that Form Two has not yet been introduced under the new system. He questioned the sustainability of such institutions.
“These numbers are telling us a story. We have been holding up schools that do not need to survive,” he said. “When we finish with placement, we will determine which schools do not receive any students. What then are we supposed to do?”
The CS said the ministry will be forced to make difficult decisions on whether to maintain under-enrolled schools or redirect investment to institutions that students actively choose.
“There would be no point in having a school with 10 children, where you have a headteacher, a watchman, classrooms and teachers. It doesn’t make sense,” Ogamba said. “We do not need 10 schools in a place with 1,000 students, while one school has only 100 learners.”
He stressed that the move is anchored in constitutional obligations, particularly Article 53 of the Constitution, which guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory basic education that meets acceptable quality standards.
Ogamba also criticised what he described as “patriotic schools” — institutions established for symbolic or political reasons but lacking sufficient enrolment and facilities to function effectively.
“We don’t need schools built just for namesakes. A school must be a functional learning institution,” he said, calling on parents and communities to support the rationalisation process.
On teacher deployment, the CS said the ministry will redistribute teachers from under-enrolled schools to institutions experiencing overcrowding once placement data is finalised.
“We will balance teacher deployment to ensure that schools with the required numbers have adequate staff and learning can continue effectively,” he said.
Ogamba further explained that the Competency-Based Education system places students into senior school pathways based on skills and interests developed from Grade One to Grade Nine. According to ministry data, 53pc of learners have selected STEM pathways, 38pc social sciences, and 11 per cent arts and sports.
Unlike the former 8-4-4 system, he said, assessment under CBE relies on continuous evaluation through projects and termly assessments rather than a single final examination.
Students will still have room to adjust their pathways during the first term of Grade 10, Ogamba clarified, but any changes must align with demonstrated competencies and be guided by career teachers.
The ministry, he added, is already preparing teachers to manage the transition to senior school and address challenges observed during earlier shifts under the new curriculum.
