Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has ordered all Chiefs in the country to ensure that all students who sat for the 2020 KCPE exams join form one by Thursday.

Speaking in Kibarani,during the national launch of the mop up exercise to ensure the government's directive of 100 percent transition of all primary school children to high school is achieved, Magoha said that preliminary statistics showed that the Coast region was lagging behind at 60% compared to other regions which registered between 80 to 90 percent transition rate.

"This region of the coast is doing very badly at 60% compared to other regions, I have ordered all chiefs and sub-chiefs to go out there and mop up all children that need to be in school by Thursday," said Magoha.

The CS admitted that there were many parents facing financial challenges thus the reason for many students to fail to continue with their education. This he said despite government efforts to provide scholarships and bursaries..

Magoha added that all schools that need to be registered will not be delayed as more schools were needed to realize the 100 percent transition.

"If a school needs to be registered then I see no reason for delaying that, though we must ensure that we maintain standards," said Magoha.

The CS also disclosed that the government had already disbursed term one monies for schools and a further 240 million shillings for rice from Mwea to support schools that offer feeding program.

The government has further set aside 1.8 billion to support the school feeding program.

During his tour, Magoha identified two needy students who had failed to join form 1 whom he immediately placed under government scholarship program.

Moses Wafula Sindani who scored 394 marks was taken to Shimo la Tewa high school as Biosa Hassan Zole who managed 355 marks was placed at Mama Ngina Girls High school.

Their parents could not hide their joy as they received the much needed help they so desired.

"Since the pandemic hit, I lost my job and have had to do menial jobs to survive, I was afraid Moses would not be able to go to school but now I can smile again," said 42 year old Alfayo Sindani.

For Fatma Charo from Bangladesh, a chief Baraza that took place last week opened doors for her daughter to get scholarship.

"I narrated my ordeal during the Baraza and the chief took down my details and assured me help would come, l wash cloths for people and do other menial jobs to irk a living so educating Biosa was going to be a challenge," said Charo.

Mama Ngina Girls Principal Mwanahamisi Omar called on parents whoare unable to cater for their children's fees to not shy away from taking them to school but rather be hopeful that help may come their way.