Education CS George Magoha and his Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i have launched a crackdown for thousands of missing form one students.
The exercise to search for about 100,000 missing students was scheduled to begin on the morning of Monday, August 23 and would involve all stakeholders at the sub-county level.
The students were expected to enrol to secondary schools by Friday, August 13, but more than a week later, some of them are yet to show up.
The initial deadline had been pegged at Friday, August 6 but over 115,000 students still did not show up to their respective schools.
Speaking to the press, Director of Secondary Education Paul Kibet noted that the progress was notable since a total of 1,179,192 students sat for the 2020 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
The admission figures after the first deadline remained low with Coast Region recording the worst admission rate at 60 per cent.
“The 100 per cent transition policy, provides for all learners who sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams, to proceed to secondary education,” stated Kibet.
The discrepancy has affected President Uhuru Kenyatta's 100 per cent transition policy aimed at ensuring that all KCPE candidates secure a chance for secondary school education.
"There are counties like Nairobi, Bomet and a few others who have reached 100 per cent for this group but there are also counties which are at 60 per cent.
"Most of these are in the Coast Region and we must now go out and take the children back to school," stated Magoha in a past presser.
The admission exercise kicked off on August 2 but due to a high number of missing students, the exercise was extended but admissions have remained low.
While appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, Magoha noted that the 100 per cent transition had accorded more students an opportunity to an education.
"One of the most important things that this government has done is the policy of 100 per cent transition. It is unfortunate that Parliament wants me to justify this, yet the results are open. This is the fourth year,” stated Magoha.
