Kisumu: The government has rolled out a whole government push to ensure all learners eligible for Grade 10 transition report to school, Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has said. Murkomen stated that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration is working closely with the Ministry of Education to track down learners who are still at home despite the ongoing transition, which currently stands at about 70 percent.
According to Kenya News Agency, Murkomen, speaking in Kisumu during a tour of the Kenya Coast Guard Service headquarters, noted that lack of school fees and failure to secure placement were among the key reasons keeping some learners out of school. Chiefs, assistant chiefs, and other national government officers have been mobilized countrywide to address these gaps. Local administrators have been tasked with physically following up on learners within their jurisdictions and guiding parents and guardians to available support systems, including Constituency Development Fund (CDF) bursaries.
Murkomen highlighted that for those attending day schools, the school fees are relatively low, barely Sh10,000 for the whole year. He emphasized that, with the many bursaries and resources available in the community, there should be no reason for a child to fail to transition. He also mentioned that learners who missed placement in their preferred or more expensive schools should be assisted to join neighboring schools within their communities to ensure they do not miss out on education altogether.
According to the CS, chiefs and assistant chiefs have been instructed to mobilize communities to take collective responsibility in ensuring all children report to school. The process is ongoing, and the ministry is aiding through mobilization and collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure the necessary resources are deployed to enable full transition to Grade 10.
The government has prioritized full transition under the Competency-Based Curriculum, with officials warning that no eligible learner should be left behind due to financial or administrative challenges.
