Parents, guardians, civil society organisations, and learners in Tinderet Sub-County, Nandi County, have renewed calls for the government to abolish the classification of senior schools.
They are also urging authorities to ensure equitable infrastructural development and to review the high school fees charged in some institutions.
The appeal comes amid concerns over the transition of the first cohort of Grade Nine learners to senior schools under the Competency-Based Education system.
Stakeholders say the categorisation of schools into national, extra-county, county and day schools has intensified competition for a few perceived elite institutions, pushing nearly every high-performing learner to seek placement in national schools while other public schools remain underutilised.
They cited the current national situation where more than three-quarters of the over 1.1 million Grade Nine graduates expected to transition to senior schools are still at home, even as many county, extra-county and day schools reportedly have available spaces.
According to the stakeholders, the imbalance is a clear indicator of how school classification has distorted placement choices and created unnecessary congestion in a few institutions.
Janet Chepkirui, a parent and member of the Tinderet Parents Association, said the system has created a destructive mindset among learners and parents.
“Our children have been made to believe that if they do not join a national school, they have failed. This is not true. If the government invested equally in infrastructure such as laboratories, libraries, classrooms, ICT facilities and learning resources in all public schools, learners would be confident that they can still perform well in extra-county, county and even day schools,” Chepkirui said.
Guardians in the area also expressed concern over the high cost of education in some national and extra-county schools, saying fees have become a major barrier even for academically qualified learners.
Kiprotich Langat, a guardian and community education advocate in the Sub County, said many bright learners from humble backgrounds are being locked out of well-resourced schools purely because of cost.
“Some of these schools charge fees that ordinary families cannot afford. Even when a learner qualifies academically, the fee structure becomes the biggest obstacle. The government must review and regulate fees in high-cost schools to allow learners from humble backgrounds a fair chance,” Langat said.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) working in Nandi County said the concentration of resources in a few elite schools has entrenched inequality and undermined confidence in local institutions.
Ruth Komen, the Nandi County Coordinator of the Elimu Bora Initiative, said equitable infrastructural development would reduce pressure on national schools and restore dignity to lower-cadre institutions.
“When funding, infrastructure and experienced teachers are concentrated in national schools, other public schools are left struggling. This leads to a situation where national schools remain congested while county and day schools have countless vacancies. Infrastructure development and fee regulation must go hand in hand to address this imbalance,” Komen said.
Learners also voiced their frustrations, saying the prestige attached to national schools has affected their confidence and mental well-being.
Brian Kiptoo, a Grade Nine learner at a public junior secondary school in the area, said many students feel pressured to aim only for national schools.
“You are made to feel that if you do not go to a national school, you are not good enough. But with proper facilities and teachers, we can still excel in county or day schools and compete nationally,” Kiptoo said.
Another learner, Faith Chebet, said day schools are often overlooked despite being more affordable and closer to home.
“Day schools support many families. If they were well equipped, learners would not feel like they are settling for less,” she said.
The stakeholders are now urging the Ministry of Education to urgently review the senior school placement policy, abolish rigid school classification, invest equitably in infrastructure across all public schools and regulate fees in high-cost institutions.
They argue that such reforms would ensure a smooth transition of learners, reduce congestion in national schools, promote balanced enrolment and guarantee that every child, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to succeed.
By Sammy Mwibanda
