The much awaited placement was finally announced and students are expected to enroll in the schools they were placed at. With a total of 1.4 million students who sat fro the exams, 100 percent of them were placed in secondary schools according to the Cabinet Secretary of Education,
Its to be noted that while some of the students were placed in their dream secondary schools, many others were not. But that should not discourage them in any way.
The important thing is to be admitted to a secondary school that will secure their education jouney up to the next level. The school never matters but the hardwork that is initiated does.
Just like in the previous years, many students might have challenges joining Form One majorly due to financial difficulties. In October, Mr Machogu told MPs that the money provided to schools in the last five years has been on the decline, and that secondary schools were nursing a Sh22 billion funding deficit after receiving Sh65 billion. That translates to Sh16,428 per learner instead of Sh22,240 per learner.
That is partly the reason many secondary schools have been grappling with crippling financial difficulties this year.
“Next year (2024), we project that the enrolment will be 4.2 million learners. If the funding remains as it is, the capitation will reduce to Sh15,476 per learner,” the CS told MPs.
This means parents will have to dig deeper into their pockets to take their children to school. Many parents and guardians have been hit hard by the prevailing hard economic times and might therefore not be able to fund their children’s education.
We urge the government to keep the spirit of 100 per cent transition to Form One alive by increasing funding to secondary schools. In May, the government reported that it had achieved nearly 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school. It must not reverse the positive trend despite current economic turbulence.
Parents and teachers should also take part in the transition process. This will help to curb the problem of early marriages in the villages and secure the future of the young youths.
They should do this in collaboration with village elders and chiefs of the areas who should carry the burden and visit the inside parts of their villages and ship out the students who are there and are supposed to be in school.
Those that need funds should be provided for. This will assure a future society that is educated.