NAIROBI, Kenya – School principals have called on the Ministry of Education (MoE) to revert to a school-led admissions process, warning that the current centralised system is creating confusion, frustration, and inequities in student placement.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) said the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) leaves many learners in schools without considering their academic scores or regional backgrounds.
Parents, meanwhile, have reported cases of students being reassigned to schools without requesting transfers, further fueling anxiety.
“Previously, we knew the students we were admitting, including their results and where they came from. For instance, a candidate from Kisauni could be admitted to Murang’a High School, ensuring a national melting pot. Now, we are only receiving names,” KESSHA chairperson Willie Kuria said.
Kuria, also Chief Principal of Murang’a High School, pointed out that principals currently have no access to Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
He cited examples of high-performing students being placed in lower-tier schools and technical glitches preventing parents from requesting reviews.
He noted his own Grade 9 child, who scored 67 points, was placed in a local day school with no successful recourse.
To address placement errors, the MoE will reopen the portal for placement revisions on January 6, 2026, allowing students to select preferred schools.
KESSHA has proposed a hybrid admissions model, where parents approach schools directly to request vacancies, which would then be uploaded into KEMIS for ministry approval.
Kuria said this would restore transparency, equity, and flexibility in student placements.
The principals also raised concerns about inadequate funding and staffing gaps in secondary schools.
In 2025, secondary schools received the lowest capitation allocations under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme, with Sh10,376 per learner – far below the Sh22,244 annual allocation.
Junior secondary schools are facing further instability, with intern teachers threatening not to return in January, citing illegal contract extensions.
KESSHA and other stakeholders have urged urgent reforms ahead of the January 12 school opening, including increased funding, clarity on transition to senior secondary school, and separation of junior secondary schools from primary institutions.
“Talk to parents and you will find out how anxious they are on this senior school issue; they are completely in the dark,” Kuria said. “We want students in our schools because there is capacity. Any money requested from parents is strictly governed by Boards of Management and official receipts – corruption claims are baseless.”
As Kenya implements its new education structure, stakeholders say urgent reforms are critical to protect education quality and ensure fairness in student placement.
