Reprieve for Learners as Ministry Reopens Grade 10 Placement Review

Kenya, 30 December 2025 - Thousands of learners unhappy with their Grade 10 senior school placement have been handed a fresh opportunity after the Ministry of Education announced a second review window aimed at easing pressure and correcting mismatches in school choices.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the additional review period will run from 6 January to 9 January 2026, allowing students to revise their selections after the first review phase closed on 29 December 2025.

The move follows widespread appeals from families whose preferred schools or subject combinations were unavailable due to capacity constraints.

During the initial review exercise, the ministry received 355,457 applications. Of these, 211,636 were approved, while the remainder were declined mainly because selected schools were already full or did not offer the requested subject pathways.

“The first review process has now been completed and results are available on the placement portal,” Ogamba said. “However, demand for a small number of highly sought-after schools far exceeded available spaces.”

He cited national schools such as Alliance High School, Kenya High School and Mangu High School, which each attracted up to 20,000 applications despite having an average intake capacity of about 500 students. Education officials say this imbalance has continued to complicate placement efforts under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

According to the ministry, about 88 per cent of learners have so far been placed in line with either their original or revised choices. Those whose reviews were successful can now access joining instructions through the official placement portals.

The second review window is also intended to encourage learners to consider well-equipped but under-selected schools, particularly in regions that have struggled to attract students despite adequate infrastructure and staffing.

All learners are expected to report to their assigned senior secondary schools on January 12.