Education CS Ogamba: Grade 10 Transition Rate Reaches 75%

The number of learners yet to report to senior secondary schools for Grade 10 enrolment has fallen sharply, with the transition rate now standing at 75 per cent, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said. This means that about 850,000 of the 1,130,459 candidates who sat the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) have reported to their respective schools, leaving an estimated 280,000 learners still outside the system—nearly half the figure recorded last week. Speaking during an interview on Capital FM on Tuesday, Ogamba attributed the rapid progress to targeted government interventions, including door-to-door mop-up exercises led by chiefs and other National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs). “We are taking decisive steps to ensure that every eligible learner moves seamlessly from Grade 9 to Grade 10. Our vision is to create an education system where all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to succeed,” he said. A progress report compiled by NGAOs and county directors of education and released on Sunday, January 18, showed that by the close of the initial reporting deadline of January 16, only 61 per cent of the pioneer Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort had transitioned to senior secondary schools. At the time, about 440,000 KJSEA graduates remained out of school—a figure the government described as untenable as it pushes for a 100 per cent transition rate across all levels of learning. The report attributed the slow uptake to a mix of factors, including financial constraints, isolated cases of early pregnancy, learner absenteeism or reluctance, and placement delays linked to families seeking alternative schools. In response, the Ministry of Education extended the reporting deadline to Wednesday, January 21, and adopted a whole-of-society approach to trace and re-engage learners. This included activating bursary and sponsorship interventions to support families facing financial difficulties. Chiefs were directed to conduct door-to-door tracing and household mapping to identify learners who had not reported, while also convening community sensitisation forums through barazas, religious institutions and other local platforms to mobilise parents and guardians. “We appreciate all Kenyans who are part of our community-led interventions anchored in local accountability. We are intensifying our targeted interventions to ensure every eligible learner transitions smoothly across all pathways,” the Ministry of Interior said in a statement. Ogamba said the interview also provided an opportunity to update the public on other pressing education sector issues, including the status of capitation for basic education. He added that the ministry would begin releasing weekly progress reports as mop-up efforts continue, with administrative officers tasked to identify specific barriers to transition and implement tailored, localised solutions. “With these measures in place, Kenya is poised to achieve full Grade 9 to Grade 10 transition, ensuring continuity in education and laying a strong foundation for national academic excellence,” he said. The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that achieving a 100 per cent transition rate is critical to preparing learners adequately for national examinations and future career pathways as the CBE system takes root nationwide. The pioneer CBE cohort is expected to complete senior secondary education by 2028, after which learners will either transition to tertiary institutions or enter the job market.