Ministry of Education Reveals Plans to Merge Schools With Low Enrollment
Speaking at a public event on Saturday, March 15, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the government is reviewing under-enrolled institutions with a view to consolidating them and redirecting resources to schools experiencing high demand.
“Most of the small schools we have, we need to rethink what to do about them,” Bitok said. “It may be to convert them to other things, while we expand capacity and ensure we have very good schools across the country.”
He explained that the consolidation would allow the government to invest more effectively in infrastructure such as laboratories, dormitories, classrooms, and staffing, thereby improving learning conditions for students.
“We will ensure that we pour more resources into the education system so that schools have better labs, dormitories, and enough teachers,” he added.
While confirming that the process is underway, the Principal Secretary did not provide a specific timeline for implementation or indicate what alternative uses the affected schools might serve after the mergers. Analysts say some institutions could potentially be repurposed as training centres, day schools, or community facilities depending on local needs.
The policy discussion comes amid ongoing adjustments to Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), particularly the transition of learners to senior school. Earlier this year, several institutions—especially Category Four schools, formerly known as sub-county schools—reported extremely low enrollment after reopening to receive Grade 10 students.
In some cases, classrooms remained largely empty, with a few schools recording no students at all.
Headteachers attributed the low turnout to the new placement system, which they say assigned students to schools far from their homes, making reporting difficult for families due to travel costs and boarding requirements.
Others pointed to the transfer window opened by the government, which allowed parents and students to request changes to their placements. Administrators argue that the review process created uncertainty and led many learners to move to preferred institutions, further draining enrollment in smaller schools.
Education experts say such imbalances strain infrastructure in popular schools while leaving others underutilised, prompting calls for a more efficient distribution of resources.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba had earlier hinted at the possibility of consolidating low-enrollment institutions as part of broader reforms.
“We are doing something about the number of ghost schools in the country,” Ogamba said last October. “Some institutions have fewer than 10 students.”
Stakeholders, however, caution that school closures or mergers must be handled sensitively to avoid disadvantaging learners in remote areas where alternative institutions may be far apart.
Parents and community leaders have also expressed concern about potential loss of local schools, which often serve as social and economic hubs in rural regions.
For now, the Ministry says consultations will continue as it develops a framework to guide the mergers while ensuring that no learner is denied access to education.
“Our priority is to ensure every student studies in a well-resourced environment that supports quality learning,” Bitok emphasised.
ALSO READ: Judiciary Clarifies Early Delivery of Court of Appeal Ruling on Presidential Advisors
Ministry of Education Reveals Plans to Merge Schools With Low Enrollment
