Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba launched the 2026 registration of candidates for national examinations and assessments, highlighting the establishment of a free online self-paced training portal for Senior School teachers to support Competency-Based Curriculum implementation.

The announcement was made during the official kickoff event at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) headquarters in South C, Nairobi, on February 13, 2026.

The launch marked the opening of registration for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).

Online training portal for teachers

While outlining the registration process, CS Ogamba underscored the importance of teacher preparedness in the transition to Competency-Based Assessment in Senior School.

“Through KNEC’s Educational Assessment Resource Centre, we have established an online self-paced training portal for Senior School teachers,” he said.

“The aim is to enable teachers to acquire the requisite skills for Competency-Based Assessment. Currently, access to the portal is free. Senior School teachers are therefore encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity and prepare themselves for the new system of assessment.”

The portal, hosted at cbalms.knec.ac.ke, offers courses on Competency-Based Assessment and test development. It is designed to equip teachers with skills to assess learners’ competencies, practical abilities and application of knowledge under the Senior School pathway-based structure covering Grades 10 to 12.

Senior school assessments rollout

KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Njengere said the council is finalising compilation of data on pathways being offered by each Senior School through Sub-County Directors of Education.

He noted that the portal for registration of learners in Grade 10 will open after the conclusion of the 2026 KCSE registration exercise to facilitate the rollout of School-Based Assessments in Senior School.

KNEC Chairman Julius Nyabundi called on stakeholders to support the process to ensure the successful conduct of the 2026 assessments and examinations.

He urged school heads, associations, learners and parents to work towards achieving 100 percent registration, accuracy, timeliness and integrity in the exercise.

Registration timelines

Registration timelines remain as earlier announced: KPSEA will run from February 16 to March 16, 2026; KCSE from February 16 to March 31, 2026; and KJSEA from March 2 to March 31, 2026.

The launch comes as the Ministry of Education continues implementing reforms, including the establishment of 235 Senior School hubs across all 47 counties and ongoing verification of learner data through NEMIS, alongside plans to transition to KEMIS for real-time registration.