Gov't opens review window for Grade 10 placement

Parents who are not comfortable with the schools where their Grade 10 pupils have been placed now have an opportunity to request a change.

The Ministry of Education has opened a review window from January 6 to January 9, 2026, for learners to apply for reconsideration of their senior school placements.

Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said on Friday the review process allows parents, guardians, and learners to submit legitimate and verifiable grounds for reconsideration of initial or revised placements.

According to the CS, requests must be submitted through the learner’s Junior School or the senior school of interest via the placement portal: www.placement.education.go.ke .

“This revision provides parents and guardians the opportunity to ensure learners are placed in schools suitable for their needs,” CS Ogamba said.

Grade 10 learners are expected to report to their assigned senior schools on January 12, 2026.

All other basic education learners resume Term One on Monday, January 5, 2026.

To facilitate a smooth start of the academic year, the Government says it has released Sh44,245,066,500.85 as capitation for Term One, 2026.

The funds cover Free Primary Education, Free Day Junior School Education, and Free Day Secondary Education.

Mr Ogamba reiterated that senior school fees remains unchanged at Sh22,244 per learner per year.

The Ministry urged school heads and principals to ensure prudent use of public resources and to avoid imposing extra levies or fees.

The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has called for an urgent review of the capitation amount, saying the current allocation of Sh22,244 per learner per year, set several years ago, has been eroded by rising costs of operations and supplies.

KESSHA chairperson Mr Willy Kuria says schools are grappling with debts because the funds are insufficient to cover basic needs such as teaching materials, non‑teaching staff wages and infrastructure expenses.

The announcement by CS Ogamba is also a relief to head teachers who have been struggling with delays and shortfalls in government capitation funds.

 Secondary school heads have repeatedly raised the alarm that capitation payments--meant to support routine running costs--have not been released fully or on time, leading to mounting debts and strained resources.

The Ministry of Education now says field officers under Regional and County Directors of Education will monitor adherence to the academic calendar as schools reopen.

“The Government remains committed to providing free and compulsory basic education to all children, in line with Article 53 of the Constitution,” CS Ogamba said.