Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during his tour of Murang’a schools to oversee Grade 10 transition/HANDOUT

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has embarked on a working tour of Murang’a County to assess the resumption of school operations and monitor the reporting and admission of Grade 10 learners.

The CS began his tour at Kimorori Primary and Junior School in Murang’a South Sub-County, where he was received by Maragua area MP Mary Wamaua.

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From there, he visited Kamahuha Girls High School, Mumbi Girls High School, and Murang’a Boys High School, interacting with school administrators and observing the transition process firsthand.

“Today, I embarked on a working tour of Murang’a County to assess the resumption of school operations and monitor the reporting and admission of Grade 10 learners,” Ogamba posted on X, emphasising the importance of a smooth transition for the first cohort moving into senior secondary school.

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Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during his tour of Murang’a schools to oversee the Grade 10 transition/HANDOUT
This week marks a milestone in Kenya’s education sector, as approximately 1.13 million students across the country begin their studies in newly introduced STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports pathways, heralding a skills-focused learning era.

Ministry of Education statistics show that more than half of these learners have opted for the STEM pathway, 437,000 chose Social Sciences, and 124,000 selected Arts and Sports.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said that the admission and reporting process is fully digital, conducted through the same system used during the placement exercise to enhance transparency and efficiency.

He added that by the end of the week, the ministry expects a comprehensive overview of the number of students who have reported to schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, during his tour of Murang’a schools to oversee Grade 10 transition/HANDOUT
While the transition is widely celebrated as a landmark achievement, it faces significant challenges.

Teacher shortages, infrastructure gaps, and delayed delivery of textbooks are key concerns. Last week, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) held a joint meeting to plan the printing and nationwide distribution of Grade 10 textbooks.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, during his tour of Murang’a schools to oversee Grade 10 transition/HANDOUT

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has highlighted critical deficits in technical subjects, reporting the need for 35,000 teachers for STEM, 14,600 for Social Sciences, and 8,778 for Arts and Sports.

Infrastructure gaps, particularly classrooms and laboratories, remain a major hurdle, with many schools currently unable to support practical subjects such as electricity, aviation, and marine studies.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, during his tour of Murang’a schools to oversee Grade 10 transition/HANDOUT
The government, however, has committed to constructing 1,600 laboratories nationwide to meet these needs.

Ogamba’s committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the first cohort of Grade 10 learners under the CBE system while identifying challenges that require urgent attention to guarantee a quality, skills-focused education for all students.