The Ministry of Education has warned that secondary schools which fail to admit any Grade 10 learners risk being shut down, a move that has caused worry and debate across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the government can no longer keep schools open when classrooms remain empty, arguing that public resources must be used wisely.
Speaking during a live radio interview, Ogamba explained that the new education system places choice in the hands of learners. Students select the schools they want to join, while the government only supports the placement process.
Because of this, some schools have received no Grade 10 applications at all. He said the ministry cannot force students into schools they do not choose, and institutions with zero enrolment cannot continue operating as usual.
According to the CS, keeping such schools open would amount to wasting public money. He added that empty schools also show a loss of confidence from the surrounding community.
Closure, he said, will only come after it becomes clear that no learners are willing to enroll.
The warning is part of wider reforms aimed at fixing imbalance in the education system. Ogamba noted that many students compete for a small number of places in a few popular national schools, while other institutions are ignored.
This has led to long travel distances, high pressure on families, and unfair competition.
To address this, the government plans to strengthen schools at the local level. Each ward is expected to have a well-equipped school with good facilities, trained teachers, and modern learning resources.
The aim is to ensure that quality education is available closer to home and that students no longer feel forced to chase a few elite schools.
These changes will be rolled out in stages, starting with counties where demand for national schools is highest. Even as some schools are placed under county management, the ministry says national standards will remain the same.
Oversight, teacher quality, and learning outcomes will still be closely monitored.
The announcement has raised concern among teachers and school heads, especially in rural areas where enrolment is low. Some fear job losses and reduced funding. Others argue that their schools offer the same curriculum as top institutions and suffer mainly from poor public perceptiont.
In response, the government has launched door-to-door campaigns to encourage families to ensure learners report to school before the deadline. Admission currently stands at about three quarters, and the ministry expects the figure to rise sharply.
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