The Central Region is steadily closing in on the government’s target of 100 percent transition to senior secondary schools, with the latest figures showing an average transition rate of 84 percent as of Wednesday.
Central Region Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said the progress reflects sustained government efforts to ensure that no learner is left behind following the rollout of the new senior secondary education structure. He spoke during an official tour of Kirinyaga County, engaging county administrators and education stakeholders.
“As at the close of Wednesday, Kirinyaga County has registered an 88 percent transition rate, placing it among the top-performing counties in the region. Kiambu County is leading with an impressive 98 percent, while Nyeri County stands at 82 percent. Nyandarua County recorded the lowest turnout so far at approximately 80 percent,” said Nkanatha.
He added that while the overall picture is encouraging, the ultimate goal remains full transition, emphasizing that every child who completes junior secondary must proceed to senior secondary school.
The Commissioner assured parents and guardians that no learner will be locked out of school due to late admission, despite the lapse of the official reporting deadline. He acknowledged that some students are yet to report due to various challenges.
“We are aware that some families face genuine challenges. However, the government has put measures in place to address these issues, and we are confident that we will achieve a 100 percent transition rate,” he said.
Nkanatha emphasized that public day secondary schools are offering free education under the government’s funding programme, noting that cost should not be a barrier to enrollment. He urged parents to take advantage of the available opportunities rather than keeping children at home.
“There is no reason for a child to stay out of school. Day schools are free, and the government is committed to supporting every learner,” he added.
Mr. Nkanatha singled out Kiharu Constituency as a model, noting that parents there are only required to pay Sh500 as a minimal contribution. He encouraged parents to seek financial support through bursaries provided by both the national government and county administrations. He further appealed to parents who are unable to afford even minimal school-related costs to report to government offices for assistance.
This initiative comes as the government directs chiefs and assistant chiefs to work with education officers to trace students who have not yet reported to senior secondary schools as part of efforts to achieve a 100 percent transition rate from junior to senior secondary education.
The exercise targets learners who were placed in senior secondary schools but have failed to report weeks after the official reporting date. Door-to-door verification at the village level will be conducted to establish the whereabouts of affected learners and the reasons behind their non-attendance.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
