Close to half a million learners who are set to join Grade 10 in January have requested to transfer from the schools they were initially allocated by the Ministry of Education. According to Education Principal Secretary Professor Julius Bitok, the Ministry of Education had received more than 350,000 transfer requests as at January 29.
Out of these Senior School transfer requests, the ministry had processed 200,000. About 150,000 requests were approved while about 50,000 requests were disapproved.
“Out of more than 350,000 requests, the ministry has processed over 200,000 applications, with more than 150,000 learners approved and successfully moved to their new schools,” Professor Bitok told a local daily. “What we are doing after the window closes is taking time to review the remaining cases.”
He noted that in the majority of transfer requests, learners were primarily looking to move from the schools they were initially placed in.
“Every learner already has a school. Even if their request is rejected, they still have a placement. No one is left without a school. You are simply moving from one school to another where possible,” he said.
The learners are expected to start reporting to their new schools from January 12, 2026.
Step by step guide on how to revise Senior School placements
When doing the revision, Grade 10 learners are allowed to list their preferred school of choice plus three additional options they would prefer if they don’t get their top revised choice.
For example, a learner who was initially placed at Nyandarua High School may choose to transfer to Mang’u High School by listing Mang’u High School as their first choice, then listing an additional three options such as Alliance High School, Nyeri High School, and Nanyuki High School.
The Senior School transfer requests are being guided by an automated system that will match preferences to learners’ performance and the availability of slots in schools.
Learners are able to submit their revised choices, which include switching from STEM to Social Sciences as long as they meet the requirements for the switch and the new schools of choice have open spaces.
