930,000 students join senior schools

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba tour Lenana primary school. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Over 930,000 students have reported to senior secondary school following the closure of the reporting deadline on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education has said.

This represents 90 per cent of the 1.13 million learners who sat the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA). Speaking to The Standard, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said government teams have been deployed to track learners who have not yet reported to school.

“Our teams are not just looking for those who have not gone to school, but also why they have not. The challenges are different. Some learners lack basic items like uniforms or books, others are facing transfer issues, while some have social challenges,” the CS said.

With most learners now in school, the CS said the ministry’s focus is shifting fully to teaching and learning. However, concerns have been raised over the shortage of textbooks in some schools and how lessons will proceed without adequate learning materials. 

Ogamba said 40 per cent of textbooks have been supplied to schools, and the remaining will be delivered within two weeks. In the meantime, the CS instructed schools to continue teaching using the learning materials currently available.

“This is a matter that the government is working to iron out the challenge, and the situation will be resolved soon,” he said.

On complaints by parents that some schools are forcing them to buy uniforms, mattresses, or other items from specific suppliers, the CS said such practices are illegal and against government policy.

“There is no policy that requires parents to buy uniforms or accessories from a particular shop or school. Any parent facing this should report the school or principal so action can be taken,” Ogamba said.

He also dismissed claims that school capitation has been reduced or that school fees have been increased, saying the allegations are false. He clarified that capitation for senior secondary schools remains at Sh22,244 per learner per year. The money is released in three phases: 50 per cent in Term One, 30 per cent in Term Two, and 20 per cent in Term Three.

“For the first time, 50 per cent of the capitation was released on January 2, before schools reopened on January 5,” he said.

According to the CS, delays experienced last year were caused by a nationwide student verification exercise aimed at confirming accurate enrolment figures, a process that has now been completed.

Going forward, the ministry plans to make capitation releases more timely and predictable. Ogamba revealed that the government is proposing to increase primary school capitation from Sh1,400 to Sh2,300 per learner in the 2026/27 financial year, following recommendations by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.

“Capitation has not been reduced, and school fees have not been increased. We are streamlining the system to ensure schools receive funds on time and parents are not put under unnecessary pressure,” Ogamba said.