The Ministry of Education has introduced a new selection formula for secondary school placement for 1,179,182 candidates who sat for the KCPE exams between March 22 and March 24, 2021.
The ministry will conduct only one selection and placement exercise this year as compared to previous selection exercises which opened the process to parents and candidates to select their preferred schools during the second round of selection.
The new formula will largely affect students who scored below 350 marks who usually land their preferred schools during the second selection period.
According to the education ministry, 8,091 candidates scored above 400 marks and above while 282,090 candidates scored between 300 and 399 marks.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha affirmed that the new process would ensure students get a fair chance in securing top slots in the coveted national and county schools.
“We want a system that will pick the best brains from Kiandutu slums in Thika and take them to Alliance Girls High school,” Magoha stated.
The form one selection process is usually influenced by merit, candidate’s choices, regional balance, and affirmative action which opts to favour candidates in regional areas.
Regional balance helps students who topped in their counties or sub-counties get a chance to land in national schools.
During the release of the KCPE results for the class of 2020 on Thursday, April 15, Magoha exuded confidence that there would be a 100 percent transition of all candidates into secondary schools.
He also announced that the government would give 9,000 scholarships to students from needy backgrounds.
“I wish to assure the country that the Ministry has already conducted an audit of all new and existing vacancies in all our private and public schools to enable us to admit all learners under the Free Day Secondary Education programme.
“We are determined to work with the relevant agencies to ensure that no candidate misses a place in secondary school,” he stated.
