Standard eight candidates will be required to choose day secondary schools near their parents’ homes in the new directive issued.
This will be different from the existing practice where some students in day schools are enrolled in schools far from their parents’ or guardians’ residence, posing tremendous transport challenges.
The Ministry of Education has also directed all headteachers to ensure the current 1.1 million KCPE candidates only pick day secondary schools close to their homes.
In a circular to all regional directors of education, county directors of education, and sub-county directors, Basic Education Permanent Secretary Belio Kipsang wants selections reviewed before candidates sit the national examinations scheduled for next month.
“Kindly advise all schools presenting candidates for KCPE that the choice of the day schools will be based on the parents/guardians area of residence,” said Kipsang in a circular dated February 11, 2021.
He stated that the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) has commenced a two-week window to allow schools to make the changes. The exercise began on February 15 to February 26.
Kipsang also directed headteachers to ensure that during secondary school selection, they have a full list of sub-county schools.
“This is a departure from the past where candidates made choices from schools within sub-counties where they sat examinations.”
This means that headteachers will now play a fundamental role in picking the secondary schools that children will be admitted to in Form One, as they will guide the learners’ selection by advising them on schools around their home.
Kipsang maintained that the day school picked by the learners must be within commutable distance from their residence adding that cases, where parents admitted their children to day schools far from where they stay, must stop.
“In order to enable the ministry to place all learners to secondary schools centrally, candidates must revise their sub-county (day school) school choices,” said Kipsang.
