Address vital issues about admissions

The selections of Form One students to join national and provincial schools were finalised this week, paving the way for the district level next week.

The old tale about thousands missing places continue to plague the exercise, a constant and sad reminder that the quest for a smooth transition from primary to secondary school remains elusive.

This time round, however, the Education ministry introduced a new rule which will, hopefully, end corruption and guarantee fairness in admission.

Henceforth, headteachers will be responsible for replacing candidates who do not take up their Form One offers. In the past, this was done at the district, provincial or national offices.

Informing this policy shift is the pervasive corruption when replacements are done centrally at the education offices. Form One places, especially in the top-performing and prestigious schools, have, in the past, gone to the highest bidders.

But, is the new policy any better? Most probably, the very vices recorded at the education offices will be transferred to the schools. The comforting note, however, is that schools will be sure that students who apply are keen to join them.

Nonetheless, the fundamental questions about transition to secondary school and Form One placement are yet to be addressed. First, is there fairness in the whole business of Form One admission?

Secondly, why should Standard Eight candidates have to choose the schools they want to join in March when most are not clear yet about their possible performance at the KCPE examination?

Third, should the government consider creating a joint admissions board for secondary schools, in the same mould as the one for national universities, to oversee the selection process? Four, why must we continue with the quota system?

Ultimately, the solution lies in expanding and upgrading public secondary schools to make them attractive to candidates irrespective of where they come from.