Day Scholars Set to Join Boarding Schools Starting January 2026

Beginning January 2026, all boarding secondary schools across the country will be required to admit a proportion of day scholars alongside boarders.

This groundbreaking policy shift is part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Education aimed at addressing congestion in public boarding institutions and facilitating the full rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the senior secondary level.

According to new guidelines developed by the Ministry, the policy will take effect as the first cohort of Grade 10 students transitions into senior secondary under CBC.

Each boarding school will be expected to reserve a minimum of 10 per cent of its total student population for day scholars, marking a significant departure from the traditional boarding-only model that has long dominated Kenya’s secondary education landscape.

The Initiative, dubbed “Day Wings in Boarding Schools,” is intended to address longstanding infrastructural limitations that have hindered student placement in competitive schools. By decoupling student admissions from the availability of beds and dormitory space, the Ministry hopes to broaden access to quality education, ease pressure on congested facilities, and ensure a smooth implementation of the government’s 100 per cent transition policy from junior to senior secondary.

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), which has been instrumental in drafting the new guidelines, emphasized that the move is also aimed at promoting inclusivity and removing the entrenched perception that boarding students inherently perform better than their day scholar counterparts.

Read Also: Government To Abolish Boarding Schools From January 2023

By integrating the two categories of students in a shared learning environment, the Ministry seeks to promote equality and reduce status-based stigmas within school communities.

Under the new framework, students will be admitted based on academic merit, proximity to the school, ability to commute safely, and strict compliance with school regulations. Those opting to join as day scholars must indicate this preference during the placement process coordinated by the Ministry.

Importantly, once a student is enrolled under the day scholar category, they will remain so for the duration of their time at the institution, unless exceptional circumstances warrant a formal reassessment.

Day scholars will be expected to meet their meal costs during school hours, with parents or guardians playing a more hands-on role in monitoring their children’s attendance, discipline, and overall academic performance. This model places greater responsibility on families while also offering a more affordable alternative to full boarding, which is often financially burdensome for many households.

However, the new directive has not been universally welcomed. Several education stakeholders, including school heads and education sector unions, have raised questions regarding the practicality of the implementation.

Concerns have been voiced over security challenges, infrastructural readiness, and the increased administrative responsibilities schools will now shoulder.

Willie Kuria, the national chairperson of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), acknowledged the potential benefits of increasing access to education but warned that many schools may struggle with the added logistics. “We support the intention to increase access, but there must be a clear policy on how to manage day scholars in a boarding set-up,” Kuria said.

“Schools need to know how the day will be managed and how the students will not enable incidents of insecurity and illegalities such as sneaking in contraband. Without that, it risks being chaotic.”

He further pointed out the need for legal and administrative clarity regarding the division of responsibilities between schools and parents. Issues such as student safety during commutes, the supervision of day scholars within school premises, and measures to prevent absenteeism or misconduct must be clearly defined to avoid ambiguity and conflict.

To foster unity and eliminate status divisions, both boarders and day scholars will wear the same school uniform and participate in academic and co-curricular activities together.

School administrations are also expected to put systems in place for the daily entry and exit of day students, a task that could necessitate additional staffing, tighter security measures, and revised timetables to accommodate both groups fairly.

While the long-term impact of this new approach remains to be seen, education officials maintain that it is a bold and necessary step toward an inclusive and adaptable education system. By maximizing the use of available infrastructure and empowering communities to be more involved in their children’s learning journey, the Ministry hopes to create a more equitable and accessible schooling experience for all Kenyan students.

As schools begin to prepare for this transition, the coming months will be critical in determining whether the “Day Wings in Boarding Schools” concept can deliver on its promise of expanded access without compromising safety, academic standards, or institutional integrity.

The Ministry of Education is expected to release more detailed implementation guidelines and support materials in the coming weeks.

Read Also: Government Remains Firm On Plan To Abolish Boarding Schools