Day schools recorded about 10 per cent of the form one student admission in the statistics recorded by the Education Ministry on Thursday, with Kirinyaga county leading at 85 per cent of student reporting.
The admissions for form ones begun on Monday with slow reporting rates in day schools, and in Lamu, Tana River And Turkana counties even as parents hope to secure chances in other schools.
Despite calls by stakeholders to abolish 4000 boarding schools which the Education Cabinet Secretary prof George Magoha refused last month, boarding schools have proved to be what most parents and students want by recording an uptake rate of close to 90 per cent as of Thursday’s statistics.
“There is no plan to abolish them, but there is thinking in that direction. There has to be a gradual process. Maybe new start-ups (schools) will be day schools,” said Magoha promised to adopt a policy that will see new learners enrolled in day schools.
The ministry has blamed the sluggish rate of form one admissions on parents and students who are still trying to seek positions in other schools.
“These are cases where parents having sought change of placement in schools and when it is executed, they decide that the original school is better or get a third school that they prefer.
“We encourage these students to take up their places and start learning,” said the Education CAS, Dr Sara Ruto.
Magoha’s ministry is preparing for a mop-up exercise beginning on Monday, even as it measures full data for all schools.
“The main challenge so far has been requested for reversals – parents have sought a change of placement and when it is executed, they decide that the original school is better or get a third school that they prefer. Others change placement but their children insist on the school they were selected to,” the ministry said.
Reports continue to emerge that parents begun requesting placement positions immediately after the release of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) on June 15 and were asked to wait.
“Others sent friends and relatives who placed requests in various schools.” The ministry said on Friday adding that it has always considered each case on its merit, and remedial action is taken with the interest of the child coming first.
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