Education Ministry Opens Door for Parents to Choose Grade 10 Schools After Placement Review

NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Education has allowed parents and guardians to seek Grade 10 placements at senior secondary schools of their choice following concerns over the initial placement process.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced on Friday, January 2, that a second placement review window will run from January 6 to January 9, 2026, giving learners and parents another chance to request changes under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

According to the CS, the review period will enable parents, guardians, and learners to formally apply for reconsideration of their initial or revised placements, provided they present legitimate and verifiable reasons.

“This additional review phase offers interested learners an opportunity to apply for reconsideration between January 6 and January 9, 2026. Parents and guardians must provide valid and verifiable grounds to support their request,” Ogamba stated.

The cabinet secretary noted that the first revision exercise, which concluded on December 29, 2025, has already placed most learners, with joining instructions accessible on the placement portal since December 30.

However, the second review will be strictly limited to special cases, as the government seeks to balance parental choice with the effective utilization of available school spaces across the country.

Ogamba explained that parents can initiate the review process either through the learner’s former junior school or directly at the preferred senior school, depending on the nature of the request. 

All applications will be submitted by heads of institutions via the official placement portal and processed according to existing ministry guidelines.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has confirmed that all basic education institutions will reopen for Term One of the 2026 academic year on Monday, January 5. 

Regional and County Directors of Education have been tasked with overseeing school reopening and ensuring compliance with the academic calendar.

The Grade 10 placement process forms part of Kenya’s broader transition to senior secondary education under the CBC, where Grade 10 marks the entry point into senior school.

Parents and guardians have been urged to use official channels and adhere to set timelines to avoid disruptions as schools resume for the new academic year.