Thousands of 2022 KCPE candidates miss out schools of choice, Education CS Machogu says

Majority of the 1,230,588 candidates who sat for the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) last year will miss out slots for their schools of choice, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has said.

However, all candidates who scored 400 marks and above have been placed in National or Extra County schools.

Machogu spoke earlier today during the official release of Form One placement results at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) added that full transition of all candidates to secondary school will be realised.

The Special Needs Education candidates have also been placed in the regular schools of their preference, while others were placed in special schools based on their disability categories on merit and choice.

The CS added that a total of 610, 690 girls and 616, 950 boys who sat for the 2022 KCPE examination as the sixth and second last cohort of learners under the 8-4-4 system have achieved government’s policy of 100 per cent transition to join the secondary school.

However, thousands of candidates will miss out their schools of choice owing to the high number of applicants.

However, Machogu warned principals against overcharging parents and guardians.

“The Ministry is committed to ensure that parents and guardians with learners joining Form One are not overburdened with unnecessary requirements. Principals should exercise caution while listing the requirements so that the cost of education is reduced as much as possible. Principals should ensure that no student is sent away from school over illegal levies.” Machogu said.

A total of 38,972 pupils who scored 400 marks and above will be able to join national schools, 199,027 learners will be able to join the county schools while 228,160 in the extra county schools and another 762,610 to enroll in the sub county schools.

A total of 1,819 will be admitted in special needs education centres.

“In the placement, all candidates who scored 400 marks and above were placed in National or Extra County schools of their choice. The Special Needs Education candidates were also placed in the regular schools of their preference, while others were placed in special schools based on their disability categories on merit and choice,” stated Machogu.

Over 270 students from slum areas were placed in national and extra-county schools of their choice in addition to those placed through merit and other criteria.

For instance, a total of 153,074 candidates applied to join Kabianga High School which has a capacity of 768, 148,827 selected Nanyuki High School which has a capacity of 576 while 135,511 had the dream of joining Nyandarua High School which has a capacity of 240.

Pangani Girls was also among schools that attracted many applicants with 119,265 candidates desiring to join against a capacity of 384, 105,504 candidates applied to join Maseno School which has a capacity of 720 while 104,763 expressed interest of joining Alliance Girls’ High School which has a capacity of 384.

Nakuru High School attracted 103,909 applicants against a capacity of 336, Kapsabet Boys 99,542 against a capacity of 384, Mangu High School 98,146 against a capacity of 480 while Butere Girls High School attracted 95,550 against a capacity of 768.

“During the selection, it became clear that a large number of candidates did not receive proper guidance and direction when choosing schools. This resulted in some schools attracting far many applicants against their capacities,” noted Education CS Ezekiel Machogu who alluded that the selection process was strictly guided by the principles of merit, choice, equity and availability of space in placing candidates.

“The results of the above means many candidates will not get their choices and have to accept that it is not possible to be placed in your “dream” school.”

Machogu is now calling on teachers and parents to ensure candidates make wise choices through proper advice.

The scramble for top schools came even as it emerged that 33,984 students from 2,673 schools did not select any school.

“I direct county directors of education to establish the concerned schools with a view of instituting administrative actions against the headteachers and/or schools 24 management for failing to adequately register learners for examinations,” said Machogu.

The reporting period for all 2023 Form One students will be from February 6, 2023 to February 13, 2023.

A total of 199,027 candidates have been picked to join County schools, 228,160 Extra County, 38,972 National schools, 1,819 Special Needs Education while 762,610 have been selected to join Sub County schools.

A total of 14 counties are said to be in shortage of boarding facilities and resources compared to the number learners in the respective counties namely Nairobi, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kajiado, Turkana, Garissa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Narok, Tana River, Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu which has forced the ministry to sought the placement services in the neighbouring counties with enough.

Parents have been advised to visit their respective County Directors of Education for assistance in case of any queries.