Ogamba: 88% of Grade 10 learners placed in preferred schools

The Ministry of Education has released updated results for the placement of learners into Grade 10 of senior secondary school, following a review process that received over 355,000 applications.

The initial placement exercise, which ran from December 14 to 19, 2025, allowed learners to select their preferred schools and subject combinations.

Following the release of the preliminary results, students were given the opportunity to apply for a review of their placement between December 23 and 29.

In a statement on Tuesday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said, “Following the initial placement, we received a total of 355,457 applications for review, with each learner allowed to lodge up to four applications. Upon consideration, applications by 211,636 learners have been approved.”

He explained that the remaining applications were largely declined due to either the absence of the preferred subject combinations or limited capacity in the selected schools.

“For example, there were up to 20,000 applications for schools such as Alliance High School, Kenya High School, and Mangu High School, against an average capacity of 500 slots,” CS Ogamba said.

The ministry noted that the exercise has so far placed 88 per cent of learners in line with either their original or revised selections.

The placement covers all streams, with 51 per cent of students allocated to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pathway, 38 per cent to the Social Sciences pathway, and 11 per cent to the Arts and Sports Science pathway.

CS Ogamba urged parents and learners to check the placement portal for joining instructions, which are now available for download.

“Joining instructions are available effective today, December 30 2025, on the placement portal,” he said.

The Ministry of Education has also announced that students who are not satisfied with their current placements will have another opportunity to apply for further review from January 6 to January 9, 2026.

This, the ministry said, is part of ongoing efforts to ensure fairness and transparency in the national placement process.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the review process as a way to address mismatches and ensure students are placed in schools and pathways that best match their academic interests and abilities.

Analysts note that such an approach helps manage the high demand for placement in top-performing national schools while maintaining equity across regions.

The placement exercise, which is conducted annually, is a critical step in Kenya’s education system, marking the transition from junior secondary to senior secondary school.

The process is aimed at ensuring learners are allocated to schools that can provide the best opportunities for their chosen academic pathways.

Parents and guardians are advised to follow instructions on the portal carefully and ensure that their children report to the allocated schools as per the official joining schedule.

CS Ogamba emphasized that the ministry remains committed to managing the process efficiently and providing avenues for learners to seek adjustments where possible.

The Grade 10 placement update underscores the Ministry of Education’s focus on transparency, accountability, and fairness, ensuring that Kenya’s learners have equitable access to senior secondary education and that the limited capacities of top schools are managed responsibly.