The nationwide rollout of Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has encountered a series of significant hurdles, with delays in student placement and an acute shortage of qualified teachers emerging as some of the most pressing challenges affecting schools across various regions in the country.
The transition to the senior school phase, which marks a critical milestone in the implementation of the new education system, has been anything but smooth, raising concerns among parents, learners, and education stakeholders.
As schools officially opened their doors to admit the first cohort of Grade 10 learners under the CBC framework, confusion and frustration have dominated the process.
Many parents and students have expressed dissatisfaction with the placement exercise, citing numerous logistical and administrative shortcomings. Instead of a seamless transition, thousands of learners have found themselves in limbo, uncertain about where they will continue their education.
According to reports from different parts of the country, a considerable number of students were placed in schools located far from their homes, making it difficult for them to access education without incurring high transport or boarding costs.
Others were assigned to institutions that lack the necessary infrastructure, equipment, or learning facilities required for the specialized subjects introduced under the CBC. Even more alarming is the fact that some learners have reportedly not been placed at all, leaving them stranded at home with no clear direction on their next steps.
Education stakeholders, including school administrators and county education officials, have warned that these placement delays have disrupted academic schedules and created unnecessary setbacks in the learning calendar.
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Many students were expected to have already settled into their new schools, but instead, they remain at home awaiting further communication. Parents, on their part, have criticized the Ministry of Education for what they describe as poor communication and lack of transparency, saying the uncertainty has caused anxiety, financial strain, and emotional distress for families.
Adding to the placement crisis is a growing shortage of teachers trained to handle the CBC at the senior school level. The new curriculum requires educators with specialized skills in technical, vocational, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects, but many schools are currently understaffed. Several school heads have openly admitted that they do not have enough qualified personnel to teach Grade 10 learners effectively, particularly in practical-based subjects that require modern equipment and expertise.
School principals have cautioned that if the teacher shortage is not addressed urgently, the quality of education could be severely compromised. In some institutions, administrators have been forced to reassign teachers from lower grades to handle Grade 10 classes, while others have resorted to hiring part-time instructors.
These measures, however, are seen as temporary solutions that may overburden teachers and negatively impact overall teaching standards.
Teachers’ unions have also voiced their concerns, calling on the government to expedite the recruitment and deployment of additional teachers. They argue that the success of the CBC hinges on adequate staffing, proper training, and sufficient preparation. Without these, they warn, the ambitious curriculum reforms could fail to achieve their intended objectives.
In response to the growing public outcry, the Ministry of Education has acknowledged the challenges but assured Kenyans that steps are being taken to rectify the situation. Officials have stated that they are working closely with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fill staffing gaps, improve teacher distribution, and ensure that all affected learners are placed in suitable institutions.
Despite the ongoing difficulties, education authorities maintain that the rollout of Grade 10 remains a crucial phase in the country’s transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum. They have appealed for patience from parents, teachers, and learners, emphasizing that the system will stabilize with time.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has revealed that approximately 400,000 Grade 10 learners are yet to report to senior schools for admission, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the education sector.
In a related development, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced an extension of the Grade 10 admission deadline to Wednesday, January 21, stating that the move is aimed at achieving 100 percent transition to senior school. The extension comes amid mounting pressure from various stakeholders to ensure that no learner is left behind.
However, the announcement has sparked mixed reactions, especially after some Ministry officials warned that parents who fail to present their children for admission could face arrest. Local chiefs have also been instructed to track and ensure that all Grade 10 learners within their jurisdictions have reported to their assigned schools.
Many parents, however, have cited financial difficulties as a major obstacle, noting that they are unable to raise full school fees, especially amid delayed bursary disbursements. Others have pointed to high transport costs as a barrier, even as some families scramble to secure slots in preferred schools left vacant by students who fail to report.
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