Kenya Records Strong Gains in 100% School Transition Policy

Kenya has made significant strides toward achieving universal education under the 100 per cent School Transition Policy, with 97 per cent of learners who completed Grade 6 in 2025 successfully transitioning to Junior Secondary School (JSS), the government has announced .

According to a report compiled by National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) in collaboration with County Directors of Education, the figures represent a major milestone in the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and signal near-universal compliance with the national progression framework .

“The Government and parents of Kenya have recorded significant national progress in implementing the 100% School Transition Policy,” a statement from the Ministry of Interior Affairs reads, adding that the results demonstrate “strong momentum on learner access, retention and progression” across the country .

The government reaffirmed that full transition remains a national imperative, emphasizing that education is both a human and constitutional right.

“Every child has a human and constitutional right to education and we all should work together to avoid preventable dropouts driven by cost barriers, delayed placement, or social vulnerabilities,” the statement added.

The report further shows that 61 per cent of eligible learners have already transitioned to Senior Secondary School, with enrollment still ongoing. Authorities said reporting timelines were extended following concerns raised by stakeholders, allowing families facing challenges more time to complete placement and reporting processes.

“The reporting timelines have been extended… as an inclusive measure to reach learners who are yet to report or complete placement processes,” the government noted, adding that coordinated community-level actions are continuing across all counties .

To ensure that no learner is left behind, the government has intensified targeted interventions aimed at re-engaging learners who have not reported to school. These measures include door-to-door tracing and household mapping, community sensitization forums through barazas, religious institutions and other local platforms, and expanded access to bursaries and scholarships for vulnerable learners.

“We are intensifying our targeted interventions to ensure every eligible learner transitions smoothly across all pathways,” the statement said, noting that bursary support is being coordinated through County Governments, NG-CDF and NGAOs to minimize financial exclusion .

Despite the strong progress, the report acknowledges that some challenges continue to delay transition to Senior Secondary School. These include financial constraints, isolated cases of early pregnancies, learner absenteeism or reluctance, and placement delays linked to families seeking alternative schools.

In response, the government said both state agencies and parents are strengthening bursary mobilization, counseling and re-entry support for affected learners, while enhancing community engagement through local leadership structures and improving placement guidance.

The government described the progress as reflecting more than policy compliance, but a broader shift in national attitudes toward education.

“This progress reflects more than compliance; it reflects a growing national culture that recognizes education as the most reliable path to productivity, opportunity and national transformation,” the statement said .

With sustained collaboration between communities, parents and institutions, the government said Kenya remains firmly on track to securing a future where every learner transitions, every learner is supported, and every learner is seen through their education ambition.

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