Major overhaul aims to level education system as new senior schools take shape
Education in Kenya is set for a major transformation after the government scrapped the long-standing categorisation of secondary schools and introduced uniform annual fees of KES 53,000 for all public boarding senior secondary schools.
In sweeping new guidelines released by the Ministry of Education, Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba announced that the classification of schools as national, extra-county, county, or sub-county has been abolished. All schools will now be re-registered as senior schools under a standardized structure that takes effect in January 2026.
The move comes just hours after the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) concluded, setting the stage for the first cohort of learners transitioning into senior school under the new education framework.
“We are committed to creating a fair and equitable system that gives every learner an equal opportunity, regardless of where they come from,” CS Ogamba said in a statement.
Under the new policy, parents of learners in public boarding schools will pay a standard KES 53,554 per year, replacing the previous system where fees varied widely across school categories. The uniform rate is expected to ease disparities but could increase the financial burden for families whose children were previously enrolled in lower-fee county and sub-county schools.
New Academic Structure
Grade Ten learners will study seven subjects, including the core areas of English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics—with the mathematics syllabus tailored to a learner’s chosen pathway: STEM, arts, or humanities.
A new component, Community Service Learning, will be introduced to promote civic engagement and social responsibility. Learners will also have eight 40-minute lessons daily, totaling 40 lessons per week.
Strengthening Oversight and Safety
The guidelines also tighten measures on student safety and financial accountability. Boarding schools are instructed not to release learners after 9 a.m. and to ensure all arrivals occur before 5 p.m.
Additionally, schools must establish audit committees to oversee financial management, working with internal auditors to ensure transparency and adherence to government policies.
Parents and students will also have a greater say in governance, with Parents’ Associations and Student Councils formally incorporated into the administration of senior schools.
The ministry said placement guidelines for Grade Nine learners will be announced after assessment results are released.
The sweeping reforms mark a decisive shift toward equity, accountability, and learner-centered education, as Kenya’s competency-based curriculum (CBC) enters its final implementation phase.
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