Education CS Dr. Fred Matiang'i. [Photo; nation.co.ke]
Private schools in Uasin Gishu county have welcomed a new directive by the Ministry of Education on how students joining form one will be selected.
Led by the Eldo Baraka School manager Doris Khatete, the private schools' owners said the new system will enhance fairness between candidates who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations in public and private schools.
"We are happy with the changes being done by the ministry of education especially those that touch on us directly like the form one selection system," Khatete said in Eldoret on Thursday.
"With the new system, I believe our children will get access to quality education irrespective of whether they sat for the KCPE in private or public school since there are no public or private children," she added.
Similar sentiments were shared by the Hill School Headteacher Emel Sitienei who noted that currently, both public and private primary schools have "almost the same system that they are working on."
"We need to have that merit serving the purpose. I think it will be fair to give everybody who has done well an opportunity," he said.
When releasing the KCPE results on Tuesday, Education cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i said all candidates who scored 400 marks and above will get slots to the national schools on merit irrespective of whether they are from private or public primary school.