Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has explained the reasons behind the 15 per cent transition gap from Grade 9 to Grade 10, attributing the delay largely to parents seeking changes in school placements during the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Current data shows that about 85 percent of eligible learners have reported to senior secondary schools, leaving roughly 15 percent yet to enroll. Earlier updates had placed the transition rate as low as 75 per cent, prompting the government to intensify mop-up efforts across the country to track and enroll the remaining learners.

Transition gap

Speaking in an interview on January 21, 2026, Ogamba said the main challenge has been parents requesting transfers from the schools their children were initially allocated. “There are a few issues that led to the 15 per cent of learners who did not transition, such as parents wanting to move learners from the schools they were allocated to different schools,” he said.

He explained that the requests, while understandable, slowed down the reporting process as families waited for approvals or alternative placements. According to the CS, this trend has been a significant contributor to the gap observed in the early stages of the transition.

Extension window to ease enrollment

To address the concerns, the Ministry of Education introduced an extension window to allow parents and guardians time to seek school changes without locking learners out of the system. “That is why we provided an extension window for them to do so,” Ogamba said.

The move was aimed at easing anxiety among parents while ensuring that learners eventually report to school. Education officials believe the flexibility has helped resolve placement-related issues and encouraged families who were hesitant to complete the enrollment process.

Govt optimistic of improved turnout

Ogamba expressed confidence that the remaining gap will be closed. “We are confident the transition rate will improve to 95 per cent,” he said, noting that ongoing interventions are expected to yield results.

The transition affects over one million learners from the pioneer CBC cohort moving into senior secondary school. Placement has been guided by the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results and learners’ chosen pathways, including STEM, Arts and Sports Science, and Social Sciences.

To support the process, field officers working with the Ministry of Interior are actively tracing learners who have not reported. Authorities are also addressing barriers such as school fees through bursaries and other support programs.

The ministry says the continued mop-up exercise reflects its commitment to ensuring that all eligible learners access senior secondary education as the CBC system enters a critical phase.