NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has opened registration for Grade 10 learners under the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) system, directing all approved senior school centres to complete enrolment by July 30, 2026.
In a notice issued to school principals, KNEC said the registration exercise follows the successful registration of senior school assessment centres and is aimed at preparing learners for School-Based Assessments (SBA) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The council noted that only institutions that have been officially registered as senior school assessment centres will be allowed to register learners on the CBA portal.
“Registered centres have been enabled to register Grade 10 learners on the portal for School-Based Assessment (SBA),” KNEC said in the notice.
Principals have been instructed to access the CBA portal using the new universal centre code generated during the registration of senior school centres.
According to KNEC, the universal centre code will serve as both the username and password required to log into the system and complete the registration process.
“Use the new universal centre code generated from the Senior School portal during registration of the centres as the username and password to log into the CBA portal. Register Grade 10 learners on the portal,” the council stated.
School heads have been directed to ensure that all Grade 10 learners are registered within the stipulated period to guarantee their participation in the School-Based Assessment programme.
The council emphasized that timely registration is critical for planning, administration, and implementation of assessments under the CBC framework.
The registration exercise forms part of Kenya’s broader education reforms that seek to shift assessment from a single high-stakes examination model to continuous evaluation of learners’ competencies, skills, and talents.
Under the CBC system, School-Based Assessments contribute significantly to the overall evaluation of learners as they progress through various educational levels and pathways.
KNEC said the exercise will help ensure that all eligible Grade 10 learners are captured within the national assessment database as they advance through senior school under the new curriculum structure.
The council urged principals to adhere strictly to the July 30 deadline, warning that delays could disrupt assessment schedules and affect learners’ participation in the competency-based evaluation process.