Grade 9 senior school placement results have abruptly cut short celebrations in several private schools across the country, triggering anger and frustration among parents who had expected top placements for their children following strong KJSEA performance.
Many private schools had already rolled out banners, congratulatory messages and social media posts celebrating learners who had “Exceeded Expectations” in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA). However, the celebratory mood quickly turned sour after the official senior school placements were released, with a significant number of high-performing learners missing out on national and extra-county schools that parents had anticipated.
Parents expressed shock and disappointment, arguing that the results had been heavily marketed by schools in a manner that suggested automatic admission to prestigious senior schools, similar to the former KCPE-based system. Several parents accused schools of failing to adequately explain how the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) placement system works, saying they were misled into believing that strong performance labels would guarantee top-tier placements.
Under the CBC system, senior school placement is not determined solely by academic performance. The Ministry of Education considers a combination of factors including learners’ chosen pathways;STEM, Arts and Sports Science, or Social Sciences, school capacity, regional balance, and available infrastructure. As a result, some learners who performed well were placed in schools that parents considered less competitive.
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The situation has exposed widespread misunderstanding of the new system, particularly among parents transitioning from the 8-4-4 education model. Education officials have repeatedly emphasized that KJSEA results are descriptive rather than competitive and are not meant to rank learners nationally.
The unexpected placements have sparked emotional reactions among learners and families, with some students reportedly questioning their abilities after failing to secure placements they believed they deserved. Parents have since flooded education offices and online platforms seeking explanations and calling for revisions.
The Ministry of Education has assured parents that all Grade 9 learners have been guaranteed placement in senior schools and that a formal window for revisions and complaints has been provided to address genuine concerns. Officials have also urged schools to exercise caution in how they communicate assessment outcomes to avoid raising unrealistic expectations.
As Kenya continues to implement the CBC system, the incident has highlighted the need for clearer communication and public education to help parents and learners better understand how assessments and placements work under the new curriculum.
