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Kenya’s education system has entered a new era as 2.3 million learners sit for the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) — the first national evaluation under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
The week-long assessment, running from October 27 to November 3, marks the completion of junior secondary school and the transition to senior school.
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Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the new approach moves away from the old KCPE model and focuses on skills, creativity, and continuous learning rather than one-time, high-stakes testing.
Unlike KCPE candidates, learners will not receive certificates but instead get result slips detailing their performance in each subject.
The KJSEA assesses competencies in subjects such as English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Religious Education, Agriculture, Pre-Technical Studies, Creative Arts, and Physical Education. Learners with hearing impairments will be assessed in Kenyan Sign Language.
Ogamba emphasized that the new system does not rank or eliminate students but measures how well they apply knowledge and skills to real-life situations.
KNEC said the reforms aim to replace high-pressure national exams with continuous assessment that promotes innovation, problem-solving, and practical learning.
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KJSEA results will account for 60 percent of a learner’s final grade, while the remaining 40 percent will come from school-based assessments completed in Grades 7 and 8.
According to KNEC, this year’s national exam cohort includes 1.13 million junior school learners, 1.29 million primary school candidates, and 996,078 KCSE students — a total of 3.4 million nationwide.
Unlike the KCPE’s multiple-choice format, KJSEA includes essays, structured questions, and hands-on tasks. Some practical subjects like Creative Arts and Pre-Technical Studies have already been assessed through school projects.
To streamline logistics, fewer police officers have been deployed, with secondary school teachers taking the lead in supervision to minimize malpractice.
The introduction of KJSEA and the phase-out of KCPE in 2023 mark a major milestone in Kenya’s education reforms — shifting focus from memorization to competency, creativity, and real-world application.
The government has pledged to strengthen teacher training, enhance technology integration, and monitor CBC implementation to ensure effective delivery and improved learning outcomes.
