STEM dominates Grade 9 senior school placements

By Newsflash Writer

Nearly half of Grade Nine learners who sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) this year have been placed in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway as they transition to senior school, data released by the Ministry of Education shows.

According to the placement breakdown, 49 per cent of the candidates secured slots in STEM-focused senior schools, 40 per cent were placed in the Social Sciences pathway, while the remaining 11 per cent joined institutions offering Arts and Sports pathways. The figures highlight a strong preference for science-based learning under the new senior school structure.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok said a total of 512,000 learners were admitted to STEM schools, 420,000 placed in Social Sciences institutions, and 115,000 allocated to Arts and Sports pathways. In addition, at least 83,000 learners with special needs were placed in various institutions across the country.

Distribution across senior school clusters

Placement data further shows variations across the four senior school clusters. Cluster One schools — formerly national schools and characterised by advanced infrastructure and high specialisation capacity — admitted 105,000 learners.

Cluster Two institutions, previously classified as extra-county schools, absorbed 254,000 learners. Cluster Three schools, which were formerly sub-county schools, enrolled 288,000 learners. Cluster Four schools, the largest category comprising mostly day sub-county schools, took in 399,000 learners, accounting for the highest share of placements.

The ministry said all learners are required to report to their respective senior schools by Monday, January 12, 2026.

Prof Bitok explained that placement into senior secondary schools follows a structured, merit-based framework under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

“The selection of learners is guided by a clear framework that considers their preferences, performance in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, and the availability of spaces in preferred schools and subject combinations,” Prof Bitok said.

How placement decisions were made

According to the PS, placement into senior schools is guided by three main factors: learners’ choices, KJSEA performance, and available vacancies in the selected schools.

“Each pathway has specific subject tracks, and learners are placed according to their academic performance in relevant learning areas, the school’s specialisation and its capacity,” Prof Bitok said.

He added that the final allocation also considers approved school capacity and sub-county quotas, which are calculated using a modified County Revenue Allocation (CRA) formula to promote fairness and regional balance.

The ministry further announced that the placement portal will remain open for one week to allow learners to revise their choices. During this window, candidates who are dissatisfied with their assigned pathway or school may apply for a revision, subject to merit and availability of space.

To support the revision process, the ministry will publish a list of senior schools with available vacancies, categorised by pathway and cluster, to guide learners and parents.

Equity measures and next steps

Prof Bitok emphasised that all revisions will be processed transparently and equitably, in line with established placement guidelines, as the government rolls out the new senior school framework.

“I want to urge parents not to worry. The portal will remain open for one week, and learners will still have an opportunity to revise their choices and select pathways they are comfortable with,” he said. “The system allows learners to switch pathways, including moving from STEM to Social Sciences, depending on availability.”

The placement exercise marks the transition of the first cohort of learners from junior school to senior secondary school under the Competency-Based Education system, with reporting set for January.

Speaking during Kenyatta University’s 58th graduation ceremony on Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the cohort represents the first group of learners under CBC progressing to senior secondary school and, eventually, higher education in 2029.

“This new generation of learners will arrive at universities with different skills, expectations and stronger proficiency in practical application and critical thinking shaped by the competency-based curriculum,” Mr Ogamba said.

Addressing concerns over fairness, Mr Ogamba said the ministry places a high premium on equity, transparency and inclusivity in learner placement.

To achieve this, the ministry applied a modified County Revenue Allocation formula to determine sub-county quotas for senior school placements. The formula factors in population, equal share, geographical size, poverty levels and income distance.

“These indices were used to calculate the raw share for each sub-county, which then guided the allocation of available spaces in senior schools,” Mr Ogamba said, adding that the approach safeguards opportunities for learners from historically marginalised and under-resourced regions.

Under the formula, 42 per cent of placement consideration is based on county population, 22 per cent on learner performance, 14 per cent on poverty levels, 13 per cent on distance to school, and nine per cent on school size and infrastructure.

According to ministry guidelines, all public and private schools will admit Grade 10 learners through the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). Principals will not be allowed to register learners on the system before they physically report to school, and the ministry will monitor reporting on a daily basis.