Grade 10 Selection in Kenya: The Ultimate Guide to Picking Your Career Pathway & School

To choose schools for Grade 10 in Kenya under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) involves selecting a senior school pathway (STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts & Sports) and 12 preferred schools via the Ministry of Education portal. Parents must pick 4 schools for each of 3 subject combinations, balancing boarding (national/county) and day schools based on career interests, aptitude (KJSEA scores), and school facilities.

Steps to Choose Grade 10 Schools

1. Identify the Pathway and Track

1. • STEM: For science/tech-oriented learners (e.g., Pure Science, Applied Science).
   • Social Sciences: For languages, humanities, and arts.
   • Arts & Sports Science: For creative arts, film, and sports.

1. Understand Subject Combinations

Once a track is chosen (e.g., Pure Science), select three subject combinations (e.g., Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics). The portal will show schools offering these combinations.

1. Select the 12 Schools

• Choose 4 schools for your top-choice subject combination.
• Choose 4 schools for your second-choice combination.
• Choose 4 schools for your third-choice combination.
• Structure:This must include a mix of 9 boarding schools (3 from the home county, 6 from outside) and 3 day schools within the home sub-county.

1. Submit Through the Portal:Log in to the official Ministry of Education portal to submit selections.

Key Considerations

• KJSEA Results: The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results guide, but do not solely determine, placement. They help identify the best pathway.
• School Categories: Options include National, Extra-County, and County schools, with fees ranging from approximately Ksh 15,000 for day schools (C4) to over Ksh 50,000 per term for some boarding schools (C1).
• Infrastructure & Location: Evaluate school facilities, including laboratories, libraries, and ICT resources.
• Co-curricular Activities: Ensure the school supports the child’s talent in sports or arts.

Important Notes:

• 100% Transition: The government aims for full transition of all learners to Grade 10.
• Final Decision: The Ministry will place learners based on their choices, performance, and capacity of the schools.

Choosing a Grade 10 school in Kenya under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is no longer just about grades; it is a strategic process that aligns a learner’s strengths with specific career pathways.

1. Identify Your Career Pathway

Before picking schools, you must choose one of three specialized pathways that will define your Grade 10–12 education:

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics): For those interested in pure sciences, applied sciences, and technical studies.
• Social Sciences: Focuses on humanities, languages, and business studies.
• Arts & Sports Science: For learners gifted in creative arts and physical education.

2. Follow the Selection Guidelines

You are required to select a total of 12 schools through the Ministry of Education Placement Portal. Your choices must be distributed as follows:

• 3 Day Schools: Must be within your local home sub-county.
• 3 Boarding Schools: Located within your home county.
• 6 Boarding Schools: Located in counties other than your home county.

3. Evaluate School Categorization

Schools are now grouped based on their resources and the pathways they offer:

• Triple Pathway Schools: Offer all three pathways (STEM, Social Sciences, Arts & Sports).
• Double Pathway Schools: Offer STEM and one other pathway.
• Merit Clusters (C1–C4): Schools are also categorized by performance and facilities. C1 schools (top national schools) are highly competitive, sometimes receiving 20,000 applications for only 500 slots. It is often wise to include high-performing C2 or C3 schools in your selection to increase placement chances.

4. Understand Placement Criteria

Placement is fully automated and based on a “fairness formula” rather than just a pass/fail mark. The score is weighted as follows:

• 60%: Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
• 20%: School-Based Assessments (SBA) from Grades 7 and 8.
• 20%: Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) results.

5. Check Results and Admission

• Check Placement: Send the learner’s assessment number to SMS code 22263 (Ksh 30 per SMS) or visit the KEMIS portal.
• Admission Letters: These must be downloaded online from the official portal; schools are not permitted to issue physical joining instructions.
• Change of Placement: If you are dissatisfied, a formal revision window usually opens (e.g., late December) where you can request a transfer through your Junior School Headteacher, provided the target school has declared a vacancy.