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| Senior School Admission Brings New Reality Check for Grade 10 Parents |
Senior School Admission Brings New Reality Check for Grade 10 Parents
The transition from junior secondary to senior school has emerged as a defining moment for families, revealing both preparedness gaps and growing concerns around costs, logistics, and learner well-being.
Parents whose children have already reported say the admission process goes far beyond presenting an admission letter.
Many families were caught off guard by the amount of money required on the first day, noting that school fees are only part of the total cost. Uniforms, bedding, textbooks, personal effects, and transport expenses significantly increase the financial burden.
Several parents have urged others to prepare well in advance and avoid last-minute borrowing, warning that some learners risk delayed admission due to insufficient funds.
Another key lesson parents are emphasizing is the importance of involving learners in school and pathway choices. Under the CBE system, students are placed into different pathways aligned with their strengths and interests, including science, technology, arts, and social sciences.
Parents say children who understand why they were placed in a particular school or pathway adjust more easily and feel motivated to begin senior school. Forcing learners into schools they did not prefer, they caution, may affect morale and performance.
Logistical challenges have also featured prominently during reporting. Long queues, multiple verification steps, and crowded offices have made the process stressful for both parents and learners.
Experienced parents advise carrying all required documents, arriving early, and, where possible, having another adult accompany the learner to help manage luggage and paperwork.
Emotional support, they add, is just as important as financial readiness, especially for learners joining boarding schools for the first time.
Personal stories from across the country highlight the stark inequalities surrounding Grade 10 admission.
While some families have turned reporting day into a celebratory milestone, others have struggled to raise the required funds, forcing desperate appeals for help or risking learners missing out despite having secured placement.
These contrasting experiences have sparked debate about affordability and access under the new education structure.
Education officials maintain that the transition to senior school is progressing, but acknowledge challenges such as delayed reporting in some regions.
The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all placed learners report and has encouraged parents to engage school administrations and local education offices where difficulties arise.
As Kenya continues implementing the CBE system, the experiences of parents during Grade 10 admission are shaping a growing body of practical advice.
Their shared do’s and don’ts underscore a broader reality: successful transition to senior school requires early preparation, clear communication, financial planning, and emotional support to ensure learners begin this critical stage of education on firm footing.
Senior School Admission Brings New Reality Check for Grade 10 Parents