Matiliku Boys High School Principal Dr. Johnstone Ndivo in action during the Launch of a three-day recruitment and talent identification exercise at the School on January 7, 2026. Photo by Mutune Ngumu. 
By Mutune wa Ngumu.
Hundreds of students accompanied by their parents on Tuesday thronged Matiliku Boys High School in Makueni County seeking placement into Senior School under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, as the institution rolled out a three-day recruitment and talent identification exercise.
The learners are competing for limited slots in one of the three learning pathways offered by the school, with strong emphasis placed on the sports pathway, which Matiliku Boys has deliberately invested in alongside the other academic tracks.
Speaking during the official launch of the exercise, Matiliku Boys High School Principal Dr. Johnstone Ndivo said the initiative is anchored on the school’s long-standing culture of nurturing learners’ talents beyond academics.
“The CBE curriculum has brought a major shift in education. We are no longer looking at academic grades alone, but at the learner’s abilities, skills and overall understanding,” said Dr. Ndivo. “At Matiliku, we believe every child has a talent that can be developed and used to create opportunities for their future.”
Dr. Ndivo noted that the ongoing trials are assessing students in various sporting disciplines, including football, volleyball, basketball, handball and athletics, adding that early observations indicate strong and promising talent among the participants.
“So far, the trials are progressing well. We have already seen exceptional talent from the students who have turned up,” he said.
The exercise also marks a significant milestone following the Ministry of Education’s approval allowing senior schools to conduct school-based placement under the CBE framework.
“From yesterday, the Ministry of Education authorized us to carry out placement at the school level,” Dr. Ndivo explained. “Students transitioning from Junior School to Senior School present their Grade 9 performance records and the placement letters they initially received. We then upload the details into the system and forward them to the Director General at Jogoo House for approval.”
He added that the placements are categorized under C1 and C2 schools, with outcomes ranging from approval, decline or pending status, after which parents are formally notified.
“This process was previously handled centrally by the Ministry, but it is now being done at the school level. This has empowered principals of senior schools to directly manage placements and ensure learners are placed in institutions that best match their abilities,” he said.
Parents who travelled from as far as Narok, Kajiado and Machakos counties welcomed the initiative, saying it has opened new opportunities for their children to access quality education through talent.
“This is a very encouraging move. Not every child excels academically, but many are gifted in sports,” said one parent. “Such programmes give our children a fair chance to join good schools and even secure scholarships through sports.”
The Matiliku Boys recruitment drive reflects the broader national shift under the CBE system, which prioritizes holistic development, talent nurturing and practical skills as key pillars in preparing learners for future careers and lifelong success.
