A new report shows Kenya has achieved a 97% transition rate for students completing Grade 6 in 2025 to Junior Secondary School. The government is addressing challenges in transitioning to Senior Secondary, where 61% of eligible learners have joined. The Ministry of Education has extended registration deadlines to reach 100%.
According to a report by the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), Kenya has achieved a 97% transition rate from Grade 6 to Junior Secondary School (JSS) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), introduced in 2017 to replace the old 8-4-4 system.
The report praises collaboration between the government, agencies, schools, and parents, quoting the Ministry of Interior and National Administration: “We reaffirm the Government’s commitment to full transition as a national imperative: every child has a human and constitutional right to education, and we all should work together to avoid preventable dropouts driven by cost barriers, delayed placement, or social vulnerabilities.”
However, the transition to Senior Secondary faces challenges, with only 61% of eligible learners having joined as of January 18, 2026. The Ministry of Education estimates 300,000 to 500,000 Grade 10 students have yet to report and has extended the registration deadline to next Wednesday to achieve 100%.
Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba stated: “The process of transition to senior secondary will be fully implemented as the ministry aims to reach 100%. Next week, officials will collaborate with the Interior Minister so that chiefs and area administrators visit students' homes to identify reasons for not reporting to school and devise ways to help them.”
Challenges include financial barriers, early pregnancies, absenteeism, and placement delays. The government is taking steps such as door-to-door audits, construction of CBC classrooms, and bursary support. Education PS Julius Bitok confirmed that 1.1 million learners have been placed in schools with sufficient capacity.
A total of 1.3 million students sat the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) in 2025, with Grade 10 starting on January 12.