Queries raised over Form One selection process
Parents have expressed disappointment with the Form One selection that started on Tuesday, with some calling for an overhaul of the process.
Several candidates are yet to know the secondary schools they have been admitted to even while others, with more than 400 marks, have been invited to join county schools.
In some cases, more than 20 candidates from the same primary school have been invited to join the same secondary school.
For instance, at Sukari Presbyterian School in Ruiru, 20 candidates with over 400 marks have been admitted to Ruiru Secondary School.
At Bethlehem in Ruiru, another 30 students have been admitted to Ruiru Girls’ High School, with parents saying that it is disappointing and demoralising and kills the spirit of competition.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi told Nairobi News that the students could have been selected due to their choice of school.
“I cannot tell what could have transpired but once I look at the issue, I will be able to tell,” said Prof Kaimenyi.
DISAPPOINTMENT
“My friend’s son who had 428 marks and sat his examination in Nairobi had expected to be admitted to Mangu, Starehe Boys or another good school. The son has been admitted to Muhoho Secondary,” said Mr James Mwangi Kiraki on his Facebook page.
A girl who scored 413 marks has been selected to join Mutira Secondary School in Kerugoya yet Moi Girls Eldoret, Thika High School and Pangani Girls were her choices.
Kenya National Association of Parents and Teachers (KNAPT) on Saturday expressed its disappointment with the selection process, saying it had resulted in frustration for candidates who performed well in the examination.
“Some candidates across the country who have not been placed in any school are frustrated as well as their parents and this is not healthy for the education sector,” said the association’s chairman, Mr Nathan Barasa.
Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) chief executive officer Peter Ndoro warned that they will soon move to court to compel the government to release statistics on the selection process.
“We have written to Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi and demanded that the results on the selection process from national, extra county, county to sub-counties are released to the public for scrutiny,” said Mr Ndoro.
County selection are set to run from Monday to Tuesday while Form One students are expected to report to their respective schools between February 2 and 13.