NAIROBI, Kenya – Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said the rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE) marks one of the biggest shifts in Kenya’s learning system, positioning the country for a more skills-driven future.
Speaking on Wednesday, the CS said the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has now been fully embedded across the 2-6-3-3-3 pathway—two years in pre-primary, six in primary, three in junior school, and three in senior school—paving the way for a generation of learners trained for real-world demands.
Ogamba described CBE as a forward-looking framework designed to equip learners with the skills, values, and attitudes needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving 21st-century environment.
A central feature of the new system is the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), taken at the end of junior school.
Unlike traditional exams, the assessment evaluates not only content knowledge but also a learner’s strengths, interests, and attitudes, helping determine the most suitable senior-school pathway.
“The goal is to ensure that every learner transitions into a pathway where they can excel and fully realise their potential,” Ogamba said.
According to the ministry, the KJSEA serves three key purposes:
- Assessing whether learners have attained the required junior-school competencies.
- Providing data for placement into senior-school pathways—including STEM, Arts, Sports Science, and Social Sciences.
- Supporting long-term planning by aligning learners’ next steps with their strengths and aspirations.
The KJSEA summative assessment includes written examinations and dry projects. Most subjects have one written paper, while languages, Integrated Science, and other practical-heavy subjects include two papers to cater for composition, practical, or project components.
Senior-school placement letters will be issued within one week after the release of KJSEA results.
Admissions will officially begin on January 12, 2026, with placement decisions guided by merit, learner choices, aptitude, equity, and school capacity.
Under CBC, senior schools have been restructured into four tiers—National (C1), Extra-County (C2), County (C3), and Sub-County (C4)—and will admit learners based on specialised pathways. These include:
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Social Sciences
- Arts & Sports
- STEMS, a blended emerging pathway combining multiple disciplines
The ministry says this approach is intended to strengthen career readiness and allow learners to pursue fields aligned with their abilities and ambitions.
Ogamba assured that the ministry is fully prepared to implement the placement system without disruptions.
