EXPLAINER: New Changes For National Schools Enrollment
The Ministry of Education has announced a policy shift to increase student enrollment at Kenya’s most sought-after national and extra-county schools.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok noted that the move is designed to expand access to institutions with long-standing records of academic excellence.
The PS was speaking on Tuesday, May 5, during the Elimu Mashinani panel discussion in Nakuru.
Bitok explained that the government intends to prioritise expansion in high-performing schools with strong traditions, arguing that more learners should benefit from their established standards.
“The government policy now is that we need to increase capacity in the popular schools,” he stated.
“These large schools have strong traditions of excellence, and we feel it is important to allow more students to learn in these institutions.”
Through this policy shift, the government plans to manage enrollment pressures in top public schools, which have historically admitted only a small number of students.
PS Julius Bitok: We are getting a new system within the next one month that will be able to track real-time the distribution of books, implementation of the curriculum, digital learning etc. #ElimuMashinani pic.twitter.com/cpec6Wg7pD
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 5, 2026
Despite the announcement, the Education PS clarified that the policy is not in any way intended to sideline smaller basic education institutions.
According to him, investments will also be directed toward schools that have struggled to attract students, ensuring a more balanced development across the education sector.
“That does not mean we want to disadvantage other institutions,” Bitok clarified.
“As we expand the popular schools, we are also investing more in the schools where no learners are going.”
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The policy comes amid ongoing scrutiny over school fees and additional levies, particularly in prestigious institutions such as Alliance Girls’ High School.
Recent concerns have emerged regarding extra charges imposed on parents beyond the standard government-approved fees.
Addressing the issue, Bitok clarified that the official fee for senior secondary school remains capped at Ksh53,000.
PS Julius Kibet Bitok on Alliance Girls fee scandal: "The standard fee for senior school is Sh53,000 but in case the schools need parents to contribute to build something, there is an approval process that should be followed.
— Ⓝⓖ'ⓞⓡⓞⓡⓘⓔⓣ🐐🇰🇪 (@baroswahjr) May 5, 2026
Alliance Girls has been getting approvals for… pic.twitter.com/5B8aT6PiMz
He also noted that any additional charges must go through a formal approval process within the Ministry.
“The standard fee for Senior school is Ksh53,000, but in case the schools need parents to contribute to build something, there is an approval process that should be followed,” Bitok stated.
EXPLAINER: New Changes For National Schools Enrollment
