According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machagu, the state has no plans to abolish boarding schools.
The announcement is welcome news for parents who opposed the state’s plans to eliminate boarding schools nationwide.
Today, the secretary of state announced that the government has examined an early proposal to end boarding schools.
“We are not abolishing boarding schools. We have to expand day schools because they are able to accommodate more,“ Machogu said.
Machogu stated that the government comprehends why the majority of parents send their learners to boarding schools.
“We have parents who keep moving because of their jobs and so their children can not be in day schools,” Machogu said when he released the 2022 Form One Selection results.
Early Learning and Basic Education Minister Belio Kipsang announced in December that the government would abolish boarding schools in January as part of a significant policy shift.
Kipsang ordered that parents must take their primary school-aged children to day schools.
Kipsang also stated that as the first educators, parents have the obligation to walk with their children and ensure they acquire the values they desire.
“We must create a way in which we can be with our children and the only way is through day schooling. The first nine years of learning are Grades 1 to 9, and the direction that the government is taking will be day schools,” Kipsang’ said.
The previous government, set by ex-Education CS George Magoha, instituted a regulation that forbade candidates from selecting their preferred school.
In 2021, the Ministry of Education declared that the government would make all placement decisions for students.
“The Education Ministry will conduct a single selection and placement exercise for Form One students this year starting from 2021.
"We want a system that will pick the best brains from Kiandutu slums in Thika and take them to Alliance,” Magoha defended the government’s decision back then.
Private schools fought persistently against the government-set standards, alleging that it disadvantaged private primary school applicants.
“There is no private or public child. All are Kenyan children whose hard work and effort should be appreciated through fair public policies.
We are not Abolishing Boarding Schools – Machogu
