Ministry of Education has extended the Grade 10 admission deadline to Wednesday, January 21, 2026 in a bid to ensure no student is left behind in Kenya’s historic transition to Senior Secondary School,
The extension, announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, comes as the government pushes for a 100 percent transition rate amid reports of slow student turnout in various regions.
The original deadline for Grade 10 learners to report to their respective senior schools was set for Friday, January 16.
However, recognizing the logistical and financial hurdles facing many families, the Ministry has granted an additional five days for students to secure their places.
“In order to take care of the candidates who might have missed reporting due to various challenges, we have extended the period until Wednesday next week. All learners must report to senior secondary schools to continue with their learning,” stated CS Ogamba.
Low Turnout and High Costs
Despite the government’s optimistic outlook, many “Category Four” (formerly sub-county) and extra-county schools have reported alarmingly low enrollment numbers.
In some areas, reporting rates have hovered as low as 40 percent.
The delay is largely attributed to the biting economic climate.
While the government provides capitation, many parents have been overwhelmed by the “hidden costs” of joining Grade 10, including, some schools are reportedly demanding full-year fee payments upfront.
Secondly, Requirements for specialized tracks, such as STEM or Arts, often come with expensive equipment lists.
On the distance between learners and the schools, thousands of learners were initially placed in schools far from their homes, leading to a massive wave of transfer requests that are still being processed.
Meanwhile, school administrators have expressed concern that if the low turnout persists, institutions could face significant funding gaps and underutilized facilities, particularly in rural and marginalized urban areas.
