The Ministry of Education has extended the deadline for Grade 10 senior school transfer and revision requests, offering relief to thousands of learners and parents seeking changes to initial placements under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) senior school system.
In a statement released on Monday, the ministry announced that the new transfer window will run from January 6 to January 9, 2026, allowing learners additional time to revise their senior school choices after the first review phase attracted an overwhelming number of applications.
The extension follows concerns raised by parents, learners, and school administrators after the initial review period, which ran between December 23 and December 29, 2025. During that window, the ministry received hundreds of thousands of requests, many of which were declined due to limited capacity in highly sought-after national and extra-county schools, as well as unavailable subject combinations.
Education officials acknowledged that the demand for top-performing schools far exceeded available slots, with institutions such as Alliance High School, Mang’u High School, and Kenya High receiving tens of thousands of transfer requests for only a few hundred spaces. As a result, many learners were left dissatisfied with their placement outcomes, prompting calls for a second review opportunity.
The ministry clarified that the extended window is particularly meant for learners whose first transfer requests were unsuccessful or those who wish to reconsider their choices before reporting to their assigned senior schools. Applications are being handled through the centralized placement system, with principals having limited powers to alter admissions independently.
The transfer process has also faced criticism following reports that some learners’ school choices were altered without their consent, further increasing the number of appeals lodged with the ministry. In addition, certain institutions, including Starehe Boys and Girls Centres, were allowed to reject some placements based on internal criteria, triggering fresh transfer requests.
The Ministry of Education has urged parents and learners to make realistic choices during the extended period, noting that placement decisions are largely influenced by school capacity, subject availability, and equity considerations. Learners are expected to report to their final assigned senior schools immediately after the close of the transfer window
The Grade 10 placement marks a critical phase in the rollout of the CBC, as it determines learners’ academic and career pathways at the senior school level. Education stakeholders are closely watching the process, with the ministry assuring the public that efforts are underway to ensure fairness, transparency, and minimal disruption as schools reopen.
