Today, over one million KCPE candidates eagerly await the announcement of their secondary school placements, with Education CS Ezekiel Machogu presiding over the process at Lenana School. However, the excitement is tempered by ongoing court challenges to the exam results, and an audit into irregularities is still pending. Despite the legal uncertainties, the Kenya National Examination Council remains confident that the placement exercise will proceed as planned.
Stakeholders express their concerns and hopes for the final exam-based selection process. They emphasize the need for fairness, equity, and regional balance, particularly since this marks the last selection based on a written exam. Various suggestions are put forward, including addressing school congestion, considering learners’ distances, and ensuring that marginalized students from informal settlements have equal opportunities. The overall goal is a transparent and fair selection process that takes into account the diverse needs and preferences of all students.
As the placement unfolds, challenges such as insufficient school facilities, unequal distribution of schools in major towns, and the plight of students in remote areas come to the forefront. Calls for creative solutions, such as placing more students in sub-county schools and considering private schools, are made to alleviate the pressure on public schools. Amidst these considerations, the hope is that the Ministry of Education will navigate these challenges to ensure a fair and efficient placement process for all KCPE candidates.
