Ministry must work harder for smooth transition under new education system

The national examination system has for decades been used to transit learners from one level to the next in the Kenyan education system. For instance, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) has been the criteria for selecting learners into secondary schools. Using merit, choice and affirmative action, the national examination has been placing learners into national, provincial, district, sub-county and harambee secondary schools. The top performers were placed into the few national and well equipped national schools.

This system encouraged stiff competition for the few places in the good schools across the country. Learners were, therefore, highly motivated and would study hard to join secondary schools of their choice. Parents and teachers would equally urge their children to work hard to pass the national examinations. The competition was however, only healthy up to some point, with some learners resorting to cheating in examinations.