The government has opened a portal for Grade 9 learners and their parents to revise their senior school placements, a direct response to a wave of public anxiety and dissatisfaction. The seven-day window, which opens Tuesday, December 23, is a critical test for the Ministry of Education as it navigates the first-ever transition of students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) into Grade 10.

This move is aimed at calming a storm of complaints from families across Kenya. Many parents reported their children were placed in schools far from home, assigned to career pathways they did not choose, or were unable to access the placement information at all through the official SMS and online portals. The initial automated placement, a pioneer undertaking for the CBC system, was met with significant public outcry, prompting the ministry's intervention.

Why the Sudden U-Turn?

The Ministry of Education acknowledged the widespread dissatisfaction, attributing the issues to several factors. Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok noted that high competition for limited slots in popular schools, miscommunication during the selection process, and mismatches between learners' choices and assessment outcomes were key drivers of the complaints. "Being a pioneer undertaking, the Government appreciates and empathises with parents, learners, and other stakeholders' anxieties," the Ministry stated, emphasizing its dedication to a fair and transparent process.

The placement determines a learner's trajectory for the final three years of basic education, making it a high-stakes moment for families. The choice of pathway—either Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science—directly shapes a student's future career options, amplifying the importance of a correct placement.

Navigating the Revision Process

The Ministry has outlined a specific procedure for those seeking a change. Here are the key details for parents and guardians:

• Revision Period: The portal will be open for seven days, starting from Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
• How to Apply: All requests for placement revision must be submitted through the head teachers of the learners' junior schools. Parents are advised to contact their Grade 9 schools to initiate the process.
• Approval Criteria: Changes are not guaranteed. Approvals will depend strictly on the availability of slots in the requested schools and pathways.
• System Guidance: The online portal will display schools with available vacancies to guide learners in making realistic choices.

Education officials have stressed that the automated system will continue to guide the review, matching student preferences with their performance and available school capacity to ensure fairness. Once a transfer is approved, all joining instructions will be issued online, as schools are prohibited from issuing physical replacement letters.

This revision period is more than an administrative fix; it is a crucial moment of credibility for the CBC. The success of this exercise will determine the public's confidence in a system designed to replace the long-standing 8-4-4 structure. As thousands of families log on to secure their children's futures, the nation watches to see if the Ministry can deliver on its promise of a learner-centered transition.