At least 129,443 learners have been admitted to Grade 10 in the Nyanza region, representing about 70 percent transition, as the government extended the reporting deadline to Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to allow schools to mop up learners who are yet to report.
Nyanza Regional Director of Education Lawrence Karintumi said the extension is expected to significantly raise enrolment figures in a region projected to admit about 198,000 learners into Grade 10 under the new senior school structure.
Speaking during an interview at his office, Karintumi said it was still too early to establish the exact number of learners yet to report due to ongoing transfers across schools.
“At the moment, I cannot say exactly how many learners are yet to report because we have had transfers here and there. After the extension is when we will be able to have accurate information,” he said.
The extension, he noted, was meant to cushion parents and learners who were unable to meet the initial reporting deadline, particularly due to financial constraints.
To ensure 100 per cent transition, the Regional Director said his office has enlisted the support of chiefs and assistant chiefs to trace learners who are still at home and encourage parents to take advantage of the two-day reporting window.
“We are positive that the extension will enable those who are still out there to report. The 70 percent enrolment recorded as of last Friday is impressive, but we expect the numbers to go up,” Karintumi said.
The RDE contended that some parents failed to beat the earlier deadline due to challenges in raising school fees and other reporting requirements, calling on stakeholders to step in and support needy cases.
“We are appealing to foundations, the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other well-wishers to take up these cases so that all learners can report to school by Wednesday,” he said.
The Grade 10 intake marks a critical phase in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), with senior school expected to offer learners pathways aligned to their talents, interests and career aspirations.
Full transition, he said, will not only ensure compliance with government policy but also prevent cases of school dropouts, which disproportionately affect learners from vulnerable households.
The Ministry of Education has maintained that no learner should be left behind due to inability to pay fees, urging school heads to work closely with education officers and local administrators to ensure all eligible learners take up their Grade 10 places.
By Chris Mahandara
