A student who scored 415 marks out of the possible 500 in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) has not been placed in any secondary school in the recently concluded Form One placement.
Paul Wasonga spoke to Kenyans.co.ke and stated that he did not secure a slot in Form One despite the good performance. The 24-year-old stated that he had sat for the KCPE exam previously but was not in a position to proceed to the next level.
He was forced to write the KCPE exam again this year.
The learner told Kenyans.co.ke that he reached out to education authorities in Migori County to assist with his situation but they did not offer much help.
Wasonga further stated that he was informed that the system reflected he was a secondary school student after being placed in high school in 2018.
He stated that his past situation made it difficult for him to progress to secondary school as he was not able to raise the requisite school fees. He, however, noted that he has secured sponsors who are willing to foot his tuition fees and other costs to enable him pursue his dreams.
Wasonga stated that since he had not been placed in any secondary school, his sponsors cannot make the necessary arrangements to enable him join secondary school.
Kenyans.co.ke reached out to the Ministry of Education who informed us that they will follow up with the matter. Further, MoE stated that Wasonga's case was an anomaly.
MoE explained that when students repeat classes, they are still supposed to secure a spot in high school as per the regulations.
Earlier in the week, Basic Education Principal Secretary, Julius Jwan, stated that 4,334 KCPE candidates who sat their exams this year were not placed in high schools.
These were students who sat their exams either in prisons or as private candidates, hence the government cannot place them in secondary schools.
MoE stated that 1,209,697 candidates were placed in high schools. The PS did not give a way forward for the learners who did not secure slots in high school.
Every year, a number of learners register to sit for the KCPE exams as private candidates. The government, in an effort to boost education, allows inmates to also expand their knowledge while serving their sentences. They are, however, not placed in secondary schools.
