Grade 10 placement: Two Machakos schools face closure after enrolling only 7 students

As thousands of parents scramble for placement in Category One and Category Two senior schools, a worrying trend is emerging in parts of the country.

Several Category Four senior secondary schools are staring at possible closure after failing to attract learners.

In Machakos County, some schools have enrolled only three or four Grade 10 students three days into the admission process.

Kyeni Baptist, with a capacity of 90 students, has received only three learners. Kasinga Secondary, which has a capacity of 150 learners, has so far admitted only four learners, with no single learner turning up at Kiima Kimwe.

Johnbosco Kioko, Kasinga Secondary School headteacher, said: “The four students I have admitted are not ready to settle in class. They are lacking one or two things, and others are coming to look at how the school is and where it is so that they can go back, then prepare to come back.”

The Ministry of Education had placed 96 learners at Kasinga Secondary School despite the school having three streams with a total capacity of 150 students.

The headteacher blames the dismal turnout on the new method of placement, as most of those placed at the school were from far-flung areas.

“Kasinga is a full day school. My students who have been placed on the portal are from Kajiado, Kathiani, Kangundo, Mwala, in the city, and apparently I talked to a parent who tells me he is in Malindi and a child has been placed in Kasinga, where I do not have boarding facilities,” stated Mr. Kioko.

According to the principal, the transfer windows that the government opened for parents to change schools have complicated the situation further, leaving Category Four schools vulnerable.

Kelvin Muasya, a student at Kyeni Secondary School, said: “Nilikuwa nimeitwa Tigelaini Boys High School lakini juu mzazi hana uwezo tumekuja hapa Kyeni na tuna furaha juu mwalimu amekubali.”

Catherine Muongeli, a parent,noted: “Kitu kinachangia sana wanafunzi kutoingia Grade 10 ni ukame, hakuna pesa ya kupeleka hawa watoto.”

School heads are now urging the government to intervene and save Category Four schools, formerly sub-county schools, from imminent closure.

“What is offered in those so-called big schools is the same as what is offered in C4 schools. Teachers are the same, they went to the same universities, trained by the same lecturers, went through the same curriculum and they are in the same environment, only that it is just the name of a C1 or a C2 or C3 located in a different locality,” added Mr. Kioko.