Your child is among 1.2 million Grade 9 learners preparing for a historic transition to senior school this January. In just two weeks, the selection process begins—here’s everything you and your child need to know to make informed choices.
Key Dates for Your Calendar
May 26 – June 15, 2025: The selection window when you and your child must complete school choices.
November 2025: Your child will sit for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA)—the first of its kind under the CBC system.
January 2026: Transition to senior school begins based on placement results.
A New Approach to School Selection
Forget what you know about national, extra-county, county, and sub-county schools. The Ministry of Education has completely reimagined how schools are categorized, now focusing on career pathways:
- Social Sciences: For learners interested in business, humanities, and social studies
- Arts and Sports: For those with creative and athletic talents
- STEM: For students drawn to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Each pathway branches into specific subject tracks that will shape your child’s educational journey.
How Your Child Will Select Schools
With teacher guidance, your child will:
- Choose a preferred career pathway based on their interests and strengths
- Select a specific track within that pathway
- Pick three subject combinations across their chosen tracks
- Select 12 schools total: 9 boarding schools (3 from home county, 6 from outside) and 3 day schools from your sub-county
According to William Sugut, head of the Directorate of Secondary Education, “National schools will offer all three pathways due to their superior infrastructure, while other schools will provide STEM alongside one other pathway option.”
Your Role as a Parent
Your presence is required during the selection process to:
- Provide guidance on pathway selection
- Help review school options
- Ensure transparency throughout the process
- Support your child in making choices aligned with their strengths
“Parents play a crucial role in guiding their children toward pathways that match their abilities and interests,” notes Dr. Sugut.
The Selection Process: Step by Step
- Teachers will log into the National Education Management Information System (Nemis) using your school’s account
- Your child’s name and assessment number will appear
- Personal details will be updated, including home county and sub-county
- Your child selects their preferred pathway and track
- For each subject combination, they’ll choose 4 schools:
- One day school
- One boarding school from home county
- Two boarding schools from outside the county
- This process repeats for all three subject combinations
Kenya children in class
What Determines Final Placement
Your child’s placement will be influenced by:
- Cumulative academic performance in Grades 6, 7, and 8
- Final Grade 9 assessment results
- Personal interests and pathway choices
- School capacity and available vacancies
To ensure equity, top performers will receive priority placement:
- Top six learners per gender in each STEM track per sub-county
- Top three learners per gender in Social Sciences and Arts/Sports tracks
Preparing Your Child for Success
As selection approaches, help your child:
- Reflect on their strengths and interests
- Research different pathways and what they entail
- Discuss subject combinations that align with potential careers
- Consider factors like location, school facilities, and extracurricular opportunities
The Ministry emphasizes that if your child excels in multiple pathways, personal interest should guide the final choice—supporting them in pursuing their passion will set them up for success in senior school and beyond.
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