The Ministry of Education has issued clear Grade 10 selection guidelines for the 2026 Senior School placement exercise. The unified portal opens from 24 August to 11 September 2026 and requires learners to choose career interests, a pathway, and subject combinations before selecting schools. These rules aim to match learners to schools that offer appropriate subject combinations and support their future career goals under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Key Takeaways
- Selection window: 24 August – 11 September 2026 (three weeks).
- Order of choices: Career interest → Pathway → Subject combination → School choices.
- School choices: Each learner selects eight schools across categories C1–C4 (three C1, two C2, two C3, one C4 day school).
- SNE learners: Select four C1 schools (three pure SNE + one pure or integrated SNE).
- No changes after submission: Pathways and subject choices are final once submitted.
How the Grade 10 selection system works
The new system is a unified selection and placement portal. It links a learner’s declared career interest to the correct senior school pathway and available subject combinations. The portal includes an interactive Pathway Checker that helps learners discover which subject combinations lead to specific careers. The Ministry advises students to decide their career interest first to avoid picking subjects or schools that do not support their goals.
Choosing the right career interest and pathway
Start by discussing real career options with parents and teachers. Use the Pathway Checker to see which pathways and subject sets each career requires. Remember the sequence: career interest first, then pathway, then subject combination. This order ensures the system matches you to schools that can deliver the chosen pathway.
School choice categories (C1–C4) explained
Each learner selects eight schools divided into four categories. This distribution balances national and local placement options and increases the chances of placement within the chosen pathway.
- C1 (3 schools): High-demand or national/regional schools.
- C2 (2 schools): Extra-county or county-level schools.
- C3 (2 schools): Additional county or local options to broaden choices.
- C4 (1 day school): A nearby day school chosen with parent/guardian agreement for safety and transport.
Subject combinations and placement rules
Subject choices must align with the selected pathway. If a learner’s primary subject combination is available in all chosen schools, no further action is needed. If some selected schools do not offer the primary combination, the learner may pick a secondary, pathway-aligned subject combination to fill those slots. The system prevents mixing secondary options that fall outside the chosen pathway.
Selection process for learners with special needs (SNE)
SNE learners follow a tailored selection route to safeguard welfare and access to necessary supports. Each SNE learner selects four schools drawn only from the C1 category:
- Three must be pure SNE institutions.
- The fourth can be a pure SNE or an integrated school with verified facilities.
Parents and caregivers must confirm that the schools have suitable infrastructure and trained staff—for example, braille materials and tactile resources for learners with visual impairments.
Administrative rules and stakeholder roles
Teachers act as advisors and facilitators only. Under the new rules, teachers must not submit selections on behalf of learners. Official login credentials will be issued through Sub-County Directors of Education. School administrators must immediately verify that all eligible learners are listed in the system and that gender and personal details are correct. Corrections should be made on the portal during the selection window.
Private schools and platform separation
Private senior schools are not listed on the central placement portal during the initial phase. Parents who want private placements must contact those schools directly to inquire about availability and admission terms. Also note that the KEMIS onboarding portal is separate from the Grade 10 Selection and Placement System; updates on one platform do not automatically reflect on the other.
Resources to prepare for Grade 10 selection
Students and parents can review curriculum and exam resources while planning subject choices and pathways. For example, study the Grade 10 curriculum designs to confirm subject content and requirements using this Grade 10 curriculum designs. For broader senior school planning, check the senior school curriculum designs and use available CBC revision and exam materials such as the free CBC exams to assess readiness for chosen subjects.
Final reminders
Plan early and discuss choices with parents and teachers well before 24 August. Use the Pathway Checker, verify school facilities where needed, and choose subject combinations that match career goals. Once submitted, selections are final — so review entries carefully during the three-week window.
