In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry said that the review will begin on Tuesday, December 23, to address concerns raised by some parents and candidates dissatisfied with the initial placement.
“This is largely attributed to high competition and limited admission slots in popular schools, misaligned communication between parents, learners, and heads of institutions in selected schools, and variances between selected pathways and assessment outcomes,” Education Principal Secretary, Julius Bitok said on the wide dissatisfaction.
The inaugural KJSEA examinations were conducted nationwide in November, and the results were released on December 11, 2025.
The Ministry deployed an automated system which was used to place learners into senior schools, factoring in performance, learner preferences, equity, and available school slots.
However, the Ministry acknowledged that not all learners were placed in their schools of choice.
“Being a pioneer undertaking, the Government appreciates and empathises with parents, learners, and other stakeholders’ anxieties and uncertainties around the transition to Grade 10,” the Ministry said.
“We are dedicated to making the placement process as transparent, fair, and satisfactory as possible while taking into account learners’ preferences and the capacities and available pathways in respective schools.”
According to the Ministry, the placement exercise is part of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, which seeks to align learning with the National Development goals, global education trends, and the equipping of learners with relevant skills and competencies for a competitive local and international job market.
The ministry says that, unlike the previous 8-4-4 system, CBE emphasises continuous assessment and career pathways rather than one-off examinations.
Under the CBE framework, Grade nine learners select one of three pathways for senior school: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports.
“Learners are provided with 12 choices to make for their preferred senior schools (Grade 10), ranging from Cl to C4,” the Ministry stated.
“The options give learners a platform to select schools that match their competencies, preferences, and institutions’ capacities.”
The ministry also stated that the assessment under CBE is weighted across a 20-20-60 per cent basis.
Forty per cent is formative based on the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) conducted in Grade Six, 20 per cent from continuous assessments in Grades Seven and Eight, and 60 per cent from the KJSEA administered in Grade Nine.
“This staggered assessment provides a well-rounded and realistic evaluation of learners’ abilities, suitability, and readiness for a specific pathway.”
