All schools have until 30th June 2025 to have Grade 9 learners complete the Senior School selection and subject pathway choices for Grade 10. The exercise started on 9th June and is a key part of transitioning students to Senior School under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The selection process requires learners to choose one career pathway, with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) being compulsory for all learners as part of national development priorities.
Senior School and Pathway Selection Requirements
Each learner must:
- Choose one (1) career pathway:
- STEM (Compulsory)
- Social Sciences
- Creative Arts & Sports
- Select three (3) subject combinations from the chosen pathway.
- Choose twelve (12) senior schools:
- 4 schools for each subject combination (1 per cluster).
- 9 boarding schools:
- 3 from the learner’s home county
- 6 from outside the home county
- 3 day schools:
- All located in the learner’s home sub-county
Pre-selection by schools is allowed only for institutions approved by the Ministry of Education as non-open-placement schools.
Grade 10 Subject Choices and Structure
In Senior School (Grades 10 to 12), learners will study seven (7) subjects:
- Four (4) core subjects:
- English
- Kiswahili or KSL
- Physical Education
- Community Service Learning
- Three (3) subjects from their chosen pathway and track.
Criteria for Placement in Grade 10
Learner placement will be guided by the following:
- Learner’s Choice: Pathway, subject combinations, and schools
- Merit: Performance in the Grade 9 assessments
- Psychometric Tests: Aptitude, interests, and talents (assessed by KNEC and the school)
- Equity: Regional balance to ensure fair access
- School Capacity: Availability of resources and space
Special Consideration for Top Performers:
- Top 6 learners per gender in STEM (per sub-county) will get priority boarding school placement.
- Top 3 learners per gender in Social Sciences (per sub-county) will also get boarding placement.
- Top 2 learners per gender in Arts and Sports Science will be placed in boarding schools of their choice.
- Learners with an achievement level averaging 7 and 8 per track will also be eligible for boarding placement.
Admission and Replacements
Admission Process:
- Placement results will show each learner’s assigned school.
- Admission letters will be available online using the learner’s assessment number.
- All admissions (public and private) must be done through KEMIS.
- A learner can only be entered into KEMIS after physically reporting to the school.
Replacement Procedure:
- Vacant slots will be declared by schools through County Directors of Education.
- Requests for school changes must be done through the learner’s Junior School at least two weeks before reporting date.
- Priority will be given to learners who had initially selected the requested school.
- All approvals must go through the Ministry of Education, and joining instructions will be accessed online.
- No printed letters will be issued for replacements.
- Replacement will be done once only and will be irreversible.
How to Use the Senior School Selection Portal
The Ministry has launched an online system to facilitate the selection process:
Portal: https://selection.education.go.ke/
Steps to Log In and Submit Selections:
- Search “senior school selection portal” and access the first link.
- Click Log In (on mobile, click the three bars to access the login button).
- Enter the Junior School NEMIS UIC and password.
- Use the verification code 54321 (available during piloting phase).
- Once logged in, proceed to Pathway Selection.
- Select one learner at a time and update their profile:
- Special needs
- Participants in the selection (parent, teacher, etc.)
- Learner’s location (home county/sub-county)
- Parent/guardian information
- Submit and confirm.
Pathway and Subject Selection:
- Select one pathway only (STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts & Sports Science).
- Choose three subject combinations within the selected pathway.
- For each subject combination, choose four schools, one from each of the designated clusters.
Important: Do not use the NEMIS system for this process. The senior school selection system is separate.