- President Ruto has directed chiefs to ensure no child stays home due to school costs
- Learners are allowed to use JSS uniforms temporarily in secondary school
- The government says school transition rates remain very high nationwide
- Authorities have extended reporting timelines to support struggling families
President William Ruto has moved to address rising concerns over children missing school due to financial hardship, issuing a clear directive to local administrators to act.
Speaking on Thursday, January 22, the President said reports had reached him showing that some learners were staying home because their parents could not afford school fees or uniforms.
Ruto said education must remain accessible to all children, especially those from low-income households.
He instructed all chiefs to ensure that every school-going child in their areas reports to class, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
To ease pressure on parents, the President allowed learners to temporarily wear Junior Secondary School (JSS) uniforms while attending secondary school.
He said this measure will help children continue learning as parents look for funds to buy the correct uniforms, stressing that no learner should miss school due to uniform issues.
The President’s directive comes shortly after the government reported strong progress in implementing the 100% School Transition Policy.
According to the Ministry of Interior, 97 per cent of learners who completed Grade 6 in 2025 successfully joined Junior Secondary School, showing near-full adoption of the CBC system.
The ministry said the progress is supported by close tracking from National Government Administrative Officers working with County Directors of Education.
These teams are monitoring access, retention, and learner movement to ensure children remain in school.
Authorities reminded parents and leaders that school transition is not optional but a constitutional duty.
They called on all stakeholders to prevent dropouts caused by costs, delayed placement, or social challenges affecting learners.
Beyond JSS, the ministry revealed that 61 per cent of eligible learners have already joined Senior Secondary School, with enrollment still underway.
To support families facing difficulties, reporting deadlines have been extended to allow more time for placement and school reporting.
The government praised communities for helping identify learners who have not yet reported to school.
Local leaders and residents are being encouraged to continue working together to ensure every child transitions smoothly.
Despite the progress, officials noted that some learners are delayed due to financial strain, early pregnancies, absenteeism, or families seeking alternative schools.
In response, the government says it is strengthening bursary support, counselling services, community engagement, and placement guidance to keep all learners on track
