Candidates who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations last year can check which high schools they have been selected to join via SMS and online after the selection process kicked off yesterday (Tuesday).
With nearly 200,000 set to miss out on places at public institutions, the Ministry of Education said those selected can find out which institutions they are set to enroll at by sending their index numbers to 5052 or 20042, as last year.
To check intake online, the ministry said candidates should enter their index numbers on the online platform.
Those admitted at national schools can access the information from January 14, those admitted at county schools can get the information by January 20, and those chosen at district schools will get the information on January 22.
Education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said on Tuesday 77 per cent of all KCPE candidates in 2013 secured a place in Form One, out of a total of 844,475 candidates.
Kaimenyi said there were only 647,602 available Form One positions this year, providing a transition rate of about 76.6 per cent.
“And just to remind you, the national schools have a capacity of about 17,175. As you move up to the counties the number increases to 53,625 so that at sub-county level we are talking about a capacity of 392,742,” he said.
This comes as the Higher Education, Science and Technology principal secretary Collete Suda said this year’s candidates would not only pick the secondary schools they would like to attend but also make a selection of different technical institutions.
This, she said, would ensure that those who do not make the high school cut got a chance to develop technical skills necessary for their future survival.
“We need these people and I would like to be able to pick a technician, plumber or electrician from my rural home rather than have to travel with one from Nairobi every time I need some technical work done,” she said.
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