MoE Unveils Roadmap for 1.2 million Learners to Transition to Senior School in January
Senior School Selection Starts Soon
In just two weeks, learners will start choosing 12 schools aligned to their career choices. This is the beginning of the placement journey.
The selection window is from May 26 to June 15 and after that placement will be done based on the results of Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) which will be administered for the first time in November.
Key Factors for Placement
According to Dr. William Sugut, Director of Secondary Education at the Ministry, placement will be based on:
- Learner’s interests
- Teacher recommendations
- Academic performance
- Parental guidance
This multi-faceted approach will guide learners into pathways that match their strengths and goals.
Career Pathways and School Capacity
Senior school offers students three main career pathways:
- Arts and Sports
- Social Sciences
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Each pathway has specific tracks, more focused learning areas. National schools with robust infrastructure will support all three pathways while other schools will support STEM and one additional pathway based on capacity.
“Placement results will show the learner’s assigned school and admission letters will be available online using the learner’s assessment number,” Dr. Sugut confirmed.
Step-By-Step Placement Process
The selection process will be done through the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS). Here’s how it will work:
- Teachers log into NEMIS using the school account.
- The system will display names and assessment numbers of all Grade 9 learners.
- Teachers will guide each learner through the selection process, updating key details like home county and sub-county.
- The process will be done transparently with the learner, parent, teacher and school head present.
Guided Subject and School Selection
Learners will:
- Choose a preferred pathway.
- Select a track within that pathway.
- Pick a subject combination, then select four schools:
- One day school
- One boarding school within their home county
- Two additional boarding schools outside their home countyThis will be done for each of the learner’s three subject combinations.
“We’ve finished registration for assessment. What’s left is selection of pathways and schools to help learners’ talents grow,” Dr. Sugut added.
Ministry and KNEC to Manage Logistics
Once selections are done, the Ministry of Education and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will handle the logistics for the placement.
Dr. Sugut said the ministry has separated KJSEA registration from pathway and track selection to avoid confusion and chaos in both processes.
From Junior to Senior School: What Changes?
Under the new system, learners will transition from taking nine subjects in junior school to seven in senior school, four of which will be compulsory — including Mathematics.
Dr. Sugut noted that the learners’ performance in the KJSEA will be cumulative, factoring in assessments from:
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Final summative assessment in Grade 9
Special Consideration for Top Performers
To promote fairness and access to quality education, the ministry has set clear guidelines for placing top-performing students:
- The top six learners per gender in each STEM track from every sub-county will be placed in boarding schools of their choice.
- The top three learners per gender in Social Sciences and Arts & Sports tracks will also get priority placement.
School Vacancies and New Categorization
All schools will be required to declare any available vacancies ahead of the placement. Those intending to make changes must do so two weeks before reporting day.
Finally, the Ministry will unveil a new classification of schools based on the career pathways they offer. Currently, schools are grouped as:
- National
- Extra-county
- County
- Sub-county
With this new categorization, placement will be better aligned with learners’ aspirations and school capabilities.