The selection of junior secondary schools by Grade Six learners has been extended by 10 more days, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has announced.

The CS said the decision was reached to avoid locking out any of the Junior Secondary learners from the process since many were yet to make their selections despite the August 30 deadline.

Speaking to journalists after commissioning CBC classrooms at Kimunyu Secondary School in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, he asked parents to take advantage of the extension and ensure their children get admitted.

“There have been some hiccups in the process and that is why we have extended the registration to September 10. If your child will not have selected a school of their choice, then it will become your own problem. I want to encourage those yet to select to do so before the deadline,” said Magoha.

The CS advised parents to guide their children in the selection of schools, saying that some of them miss admission to good schools because they only concentrate on a few top schools.

At the same time, the CS clarified that most of the pupils in private primary schools will remain in those schools for Grade Seven for another three years since the Ministry had established that they have conformed to the set standards.

“Unless the parents choose otherwise, for the majority of children who are in private schools and whose parents want them to remain, let them do so,” Magoha maintained.

He also added that private schools hosting junior secondary school learners would ease the pressure on public schools.

Hailing his team at the Ministry for working tirelessly to implement the CBC curriculum, Prof Magoha said their efforts have made it easier for whoever takes over the docket.

“We have made it easy for our successor and we don’t expect whoever takes over to play politics with the lives of our children,” he said.

The CS also warned school heads who have been sending learners home for fees balances that stern action will be taken against them.

This comes as some parents have been complaining that some school heads have been sending their children home to collect school fee balances despite the Education Ministry directive against the same.

The registration process began early this month and is being done in the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) application portal.

Grade Six students are expected to join Junior Secondary in January 2023 after sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in November.