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Best students assured of places in top schools


By MARYANNE GICOBI

All candidates who scored 400 marks and above will be admitted to national school after private schools struck a deal with the government on Tuesday.

There are 105 national schools with a Form One admission capacity 23,000.

According to data the Kenya National Examinations Council, only 7,000 2015 KCPE candidates scored 400 marks and above.

This means many pupils who scored over 350 marks will be admitted to the schools. The capacity increased after the elevation of 27 extra-county schools to national level.

On Tuesday, Kenya Private School officials met with Education Cabinet Secretary and agreed that pupils from private institutions would not be victimised.

“We had a good meeting and agreed on most of the issues. All we are waiting for is the implementation of what we agreed on,” KPSA chairman Ernest Wangai (above) told the Nation.

BASED ON MERIT

He refused to divulge details of the meeting.

If implemented, the selection would be a milestone as private schools have over the years been unhappy with the Ministry of Education guidelines.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion asked the government proceed with the selection.

“Form One selection should be done properly so that learning can go on. We want a productive and peaceful year in the education sector,” he said.

He said MPs were putting  unnecessary pressure on heads of elite schools to admit certain students.

The admission will be based on merit, quotas, equity, affirmative action and students’ choice.

Available slots for national schools are usually filled first, followed by extra-county schools.