Tharaka Nithi County has recorded a 69.8 percent Grade 10 reporting rate as education authorities intensify efforts to ensure all learners placed in secondary school report before the January 21 admission deadline.
The County Director of Education, Mr. Mbugua Kabaki, said the county was allocated 14,992 learners to join Grade 10 this year, out of whom 10,453 have already reported to their respective schools.
“This represents a 69.8 percent reporting rate so far. We expect more learners to report before the closure of the admission window on January 21,” Kabaki told Kenya News Agency in his office.
Kabaki said all Cluster One national schools in the county, including Chogoria Boys, Chogoria Girls, Ikuu Boys, and Kiriani Boys, have already attained full capacity.
He noted that some Cluster Two schools, formerly classified as extra-county institutions, have reached full capacity, while others are still admitting learners. He added Cluster Three county schools are still admitting learners, while Cluster Four sub-county schools remain the most affected, with some institutions yet to register any admission.
“Cluster Four schools are the most affected. However, we are optimistic that more learners will report to these institutions as the admission comes to an end,” said Mr. Kabaki.
To support learners from vulnerable backgrounds, Kabaki said the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with development partners, has rolled out scholarship programs targeting needy students.
“The Ministry of Education has awarded scholarships to 10,000 learners countrywide, with Tharaka Nithi County receiving 61 slots. The beneficiaries have since reported to the schools they were placed in and are already learning,” he said.
He added that financial institutions, including Co-operative, Family, and Kenya Commercial banks, are also providing additional scholarship support. He added the National Government and Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committees are assisting learners, particularly those placed in Cluster Four and sub-county schools.
To trace learners who are yet to report, the education department has formed a multi-agency team led by the County Commissioner and working closely with junior secondary school heads. “We will identify learners who are yet to report through junior school heads within their localities. The multi-agency team will conduct door-to-door visits to trace and facilitate the reporting of all learners,” Kabaki said.
He expressed confidence that most of the remaining learners would be admitted within the next few days.
On the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) pathways, Kabaki said the Ministry of Education has rolled out three learning pathways at the Grade 10 level. “These include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which accommodates 60 percent of learners; Social Sciences at 25 percent; and Arts and Sports Science at 15 percent. Every school is required to offer at least two pathways, with STEM being compulsory,” he said.
Kabaki noted that arts and sports science pathways are talent-based and require specialized infrastructure and trained personnel. “In December 2025, we conducted intensive teacher retooling programs to equip educators with the required pedagogical skills and content knowledge. We are also working closely with universities to further strengthen teacher capacity,” he added.
He said the ministry continues to support teachers through quality assurance mechanisms and ongoing online induction programs to ensure effective curriculum delivery.
By Dickson Mwiti & Christine Ngitori
