The agony facing parents and Grade Nine graduates in Tinderet Sub-County has deepened following complaints that some learners have been placed in far-off senior schools, while others are yet to receive any placement, just days before reporting begins next week.
Anxious parents have been moving from one nearby school to another seeking clarification and possible admission for their children, amid fears that the delayed and inconsistent placement process could disrupt learning.
“Some children have been sent to schools very far from home without considering the parents’ ability to pay fees or transport costs,” said Kiprotich Rono, a concerned parent. “Worse still, others have not been placed anywhere. We are now being forced to walk into schools ourselves looking for help, yet reporting is next week,” he explained.
Parents say the situation has created confusion and panic, especially for families with limited financial means. They argue that the centralized placement system has failed to factor in proximity, affordability, and parental choice, leaving learners uncertain about their future.
“We are stranded, our children finished Grade Nine and are ready to move on, but up to now some of them have no admission letters. We want placement to be decentralized so that learners can be admitted to schools that are near, affordable, and convenient,” said Jackline Chebet, another parent.
Grade Nine graduates have also expressed distress, saying the uncertainty has robbed them of peace of mind during what should be a joyful transition to senior school.
“I was placed in a school far away, yet my parents cannot afford it,” said Brian Kipngetich, a learner. “Some of my friends have not even been placed. We are worried because reporting is very soon,” he noted.
Education stakeholders in the area warn that unless the issue is urgently addressed, some learners risk missing out on reporting altogether.
Residents are now calling on the Ministry of Education to urgently intervene and review the placement exercise. They insist that decentralizing the process to the sub-county level would ensure fairness, reduce last-minute chaos, and allow learners to join senior schools that their families can realistically support.
As the reporting date draws closer, uncertainty and frustration continue to grip families, with many hoping that swift action will prevent learners from being left behind.
By Sammy Mwibanda
