A recent statement by the Kenyan government that many students who graduated from primary school last year will not find places in the country's secondary schools has generated widespread concern. According to Education, Science and Technology Minister George Saitioti, 657,747 pupils sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education last year - up from 587,961 in 2003. This marked an increase of almost 12 percent in the number of exam candidates - the highest increase to be recorded during the past decade.