GRASSROOTS FIX

Six weeks after Grade 10 students across the country reported to school, Meshack Lemerian remains at home in Enenkeshiu Village, Kilgoris Constituency, Transmara West Subcounty, not by choice, but because his family cannot afford to send him to school. Meshack, who is visually impaired, successfully sat for his KJSEA examination at Kilgoris DEB Special School. His performance earned him admission to a special secondary school in the Meru region, where he is expected to join Grade 10. However, financial constraints have stalled his transition. Speaking to the media at their rural home, his mother, Everline Mutemperia, expressed both pride in her son’s achievement and distress over their inability to raise the required funds. “My son worked very hard despite his condition. He was called to join school, but we have not been able to take him because we do not have the money,” she said. The family says the delay has been painful, especially at a time when the government has emph...

As schools prepare to reopen in a few weeks’ time, hundreds of school-going children in Trans Mara South are grappling with fear, displacement and emotional distress following renewed clashes in the area. Instead of preparing uniforms, books, and school fees, many families are fleeing violence, sleeping in makeshift shelters and struggling to meet basic needs. The ongoing insecurity has disrupted the psychological and emotional stability of learners, raising serious concerns about their readiness to return to class. Children who have witnessed violence, lost homes and been forced to flee are likely to return to school carrying trauma that affects their concentration, memory and overall academic performance. The situation is particularly worrying for candidates who recently sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) and are expected to transition to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Education system. For these learners, the uncertainty caused by displaceme...

The Ministry of Education has announced that Grade 10 placements for candidates who sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) will be released on Friday, December 19, 2025. Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok said the school selection process is progressing well, noting that learners who wish to revise their school or pathway choices will be allowed to do so beginning Tuesday, December 23. Speaking at the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) annual delegates’ conference, Prof. Bitok confirmed that senior schools are fully prepared to receive the first cohort under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system in January 2026. He added that by December 20, learners and parents will have clarity on the senior schools and pathways students will join when the new academic year begins on January 12, 2026. To access placement details, Prof. Bitok said learners will be required to send their assessment number to 2263, after which they will rec...