The Ministry of Education has directed schools to sensitise parents and candidates regarding the selection process of the three career pathways ahead of the transition of Grade 9 learners.
In a statement on Saturday, May 31, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said this would ensure learners make their choices accurately and based on the right information.
While addressing concerns from education stakeholders, the CS assured Kenyans that no candidate will miss out on the opportunity to select their preferred schools.
Ogamba went ahead to dismiss allegations by the Daily Nation in its Saturday newspaper, which indicated a crisis over Grade 9 career pathways due to the Ministry's delay in releasing guidelines.
Daily Nation, in its newspaper headline, Crisis Over Grade 9 Pathway Choices, faulted the Education Ministry over its failure to spearhead the selection of career pathways by students.
However, the CS, in his clarification, dismissed the claims, stating that the schools' selection and transition process for Grade 9 learners to Grade 10 was going on as planned.
"Currently, the piloting of the process is being conducted in 47 schools that have been selected to represent each county ahead of an official launch next month," Ogamba stated.
"To support the effective rollout of the process, schools across the country have been directed to sensitise parents, guardians and candidates regarding the selection process," he added.
Ogamba's clarification comes a week after the Ministry released guidelines for the selection and placement of Grade 9 learners to Senior Secondary Schools.
In the guidelines released on May 22, the Ministry of Education noted that learners will be expected to pursue seven subjects, four core and three optional, based on chosen career pathways.
The three career pathways are: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which leads to careers like engineering and medicine, the Social Sciences pathway, which leads to careers such as law and economics, and the Arts and Sports Science pathway, which leads to careers such as sports and media.
Additionally, students will be expected to select 12 schools, namely nine boarding and three day schools, categorised by subject combinations and location preferences.
