Schools are currently in the Form one admission phase. However, as some schools in Nakuru lack students to admit, others are experiencing an over-follow of students.

Menengai high school is among schools that are feeling the heat of high intake in the 2024 form one admission.

The school’s Principal Mr. Ngunyi Mubea, says they received 957 students from the ministry of education through the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).

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He says, the form one admission letters sent out are close to the total population of students in form two, three and four, which stands at about 1,500 students currently.

Form one admission at Menengai high school where they received students in high numbers surpassing their target.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“As it is, not all students called here report to the school. Therefore, more letters have been sent out to students who registered high marks in their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE,” he reveals.

Mr Ngunyi notes that from the additional letters sent out, the number of admission is anticipated to be 1,109 (611 boys and 498 girls) should all the students report.

He reveals that, against the high allocation, the school’s projection was on admitting 455 students with an estimate of 325 boys and 130 girls.

The additional number is something he says will force the institution to stretch its resources and infrastructure.

Items belonging to a form one boarding school student admitted at Menengai high school on January 18, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“The school population is at its highest. Already 840 students have reported bringing the school's population to 2,340. This will need action taken on facilities like student classrooms, teachers, and additional 400 desks, washroom and kitchen upgrade and more resource power being acquired,” he explains the strenuous position the form one admission is leaving the school at.

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He however notes that the boarding section will not be affected as they only took in 120 boarding students who can be accommodated in the dormitories.

As for class rooms which he says will be the biggest challenge, Mr Ngunyi notes that they might have to improvise and have some classes taken under a tent before a permanent solution is found.

The situation is no different for Afraha high school where the principal Charles Murage, says they will need to have some additional 300 desks to furnish the new form one stream they are setting up to accommodate the students streaming in.

The entrance to Afraha high school in Nakuru city.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

“We received 595 students from the ministry and more will be admitted after they sought placement here. Thankfully, we will not struggle as much since we have more classes under construction, which can take in the new entries. So far 260 students have reported and more are expected to come in,” he says.

Their neighbouring school, Langalanga Secondary School received 688 students and more from the neighbouring primary schools sought admission at the school.

A teacher at the school says they are currently within the capacity they can hold, although they are waiting to see if more students will trickle in since they are still within the form one admission window.

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