“Most parents approaching public schools do so with a private-school mindset,” he observes. “But public schools operate very differently.”No vacancy means exactly thatIn leading C1 and C2 schools, the bulk of students are already admitted through national selection. Unlike private schools, public institutions are bound by approved enrolment numbers, meaning principals cannot simply admit everyone who applies. He recalls a striking example:“We once set a cut-off of 350 marks, yet admitted a boy from a public school with 321 marks. In high-performing public schools, priority is often given to specific groups whose relationship with the institution is considered vital.

Source: Daily Nation January 06, 2026 12:21 UTC