KNUT, Church fault govt over confusion in Grade 10 placement under CBE
By Loise Wambugu, December 24, 2025The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and church leaders have criticised the government over what they describe as widespread confusion in the placement of learners transitioning from Grade 9 to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
KNUT National Chairman Patrick Karinga said the placement exercise following the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) has caused anxiety among parents and learners across the country.
“There are serious challenges in the placement of Grade 9 learners joining Grade 10. Many parents are uncomfortable because the placements do not reflect the pathways the learners selected,” Karinga said.
He noted that parents seeking redress have been referred to sub-county education offices, but most complaints remain unresolved.
“Parents are being sent from one office to another. Some learners have been placed very far from their homes, others in schools that do not support their chosen pathways, and in some cases, girls have been placed in boys’ schools and vice versa,” he added.
Karinga appealed to the Ministry of Education and Principal Secretary Ambassador Julius Bitok to urgently intervene and resolve the matter before the Christmas holiday.
The Church also joined the debate, with Archbishop Maina wa Gaithuru of Assemblies of Christian Churches International saying the current placement process undermines the core principles of Competency-Based Education.
“CBE was meant to restore dignity to our youth by allowing them to pursue pathways aligned to their abilities. Placing learners in schools that do not support those pathways defeats the purpose of the system,” Archbishop Gaithuru said.
He further raised concerns over preparedness, citing the lack of adequate learning materials and clear curriculum guidelines.
“Parents are struggling, teachers are confused, and there is still no clear curriculum or sufficient books. Education is a constitutional right and should not be treated casually,” he said.
Both KNUT and the Church called on the government to ensure fairness and transparency in the placement process, insisting that quality education should not be a preserve of a few elite schools.