At least 30,000 students will be admitted to national schools after taking the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam in 2021.
It was revealed recently that 11,857 candidates scored 400 or higher out of a potential 500, and another 19,000 received 350 or higher.
The selection process is already started, according to Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, and will be concluded in two weeks. He instructed the personnel in charge of the operation to stick to the schedule.
The selection procedure went smoothly.
“The Ministry has already taken steps to guarantee that the selection is completed as soon as possible. When the results were announced on Monday, the CS stated, “I will want to know whether it is complete or not in two weeks.”
315,275 candidates scored 300-399 points, 578,197 scored 200-299 points, 307,532 scored 100-199 points, and 1,170 received 0-99 points. Under the 100% absorption policy, all students should be able to transition to secondary school.
Although the mean average performance and grade quality were greater in the 2021 results, the number of candidates receiving the lowest grades was also higher than in the preceding six years.
Top candidates have consistently scored 430 or higher in the past, compared to 428 this year.
The top candidate in the 2020 exam received 433 points, whereas the highest in 2019 received 440 points.
Principles of equity
Despite the disparity in grades, the Ministry has stated that in assigning candidates to various school categories, it will adhere to the values of equity, fairness, merit, transparency, and inclusivity.
In addition to school preferences, performance, and affirmative action, the placement will be based on a variety of factors.
Students selected 11 schools, including four National, three Extra-County, two County, and two Sub-County schools.
The top five candidates from each county are usually placed in national schools based on available places, performance, quota system, individual learner’s choice, and the top five candidates from each county.
Similarly, top students are expected to attend their preferred Extra-County school.
Nanyuki High School, according to Magoha, received the most applications last year, with 154,524 applications compared to a capacity of 384 students.
Alliance High School, Kenya High School, and Alliance Girls attracted more students than other top-performing schools.
Kabianga High was the second most popular school, with 142,640 candidates vying for 480 spots, followed by Pangani Girls High with 124,982 applicants vying for 384 spots.
Nyandarua High School came in fourth, with 123,976 candidates vying for 288 spots.
With 105,053 applications competing for 384 Form One spots, Alliance Girls High School landed in fifth place.
Maseno, Nakuru High, Kapsabet Boys, Butere High, Mbooni Girls, Kisumu Girls, and Moi Girls, Eldoret were among the schools that received a large number of applications. The vast majority of candidates
Last year, 36,254 students were admitted to National schools across the country, with another 201,077 going to Extra County schools, 213,591 to County schools, and the vast majority (718,516) going to Sub-County schools.
The majority of candidates who scored 400 or higher in the 2020 placement were put in their preferred National or Extra County schools.
Magoha further stated that Special Needs students were sent to ordinary schools of their choice, while others were assigned to special schools based on their disability categories in merit and choices.
The CS stated that the Ministry took positive action in slums by providing possibilities for a number of children from these regions.
Last year, 667 students from slums were put in National and Extra County schools as a result of this program.
Thika, Nyeri, Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret towns were among the slums classified under this system.
