Kenya has reached a historic moment in its education reforms after the Ministry of Education released the first-ever Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results, marking the transition of more than 1.1 million learners to Senior School under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

The Assessment results were released at the Kenya National Examinations Council offices in Mitihani House on Thursday, December 11, 2025, by Education Cabinet Secretary Julious Migos Ogamba.

“This afternoon, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, officially released the first-ever Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results at the Kenya National Examinations Council offices in Mitihani House, Nairobi,” the statement reads

The Education Cabinet Secretary said the release represents a major step in implementing the new curriculum and guiding learners into specialised pathways based on their strengths and interests.

“This marks a milestone for the first cohort of Junior School learners under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. This assessment is key to placing 1,130,459 learners into their preferred Senior School pathways: Arts & Sports Science, Social Sciences, or STEM,” he said.

The results will determine placements for the three new Senior School pathways, a shift from the traditional exam-based progression model that heavily emphasised grades over learner abilities.

“KJSEA is a key assessment tool for learners in Senior School. The placement will be guided by the learner’s performance and the selected pathway. It is expected that the Grade 10 learners will report to their respective schools starting from 12th January, 2025,” the statement reads

Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) CEO David Njengere described the 2025 cohort as pioneers of a new era in education, noting that the KJSEA results reflect years of combined assessments rather than a single high-stakes examination.

“This is a landmark moment as the pioneer Grade 9 CBE cohort transitions to Senior School. For the first time, the Kenyan education system will be reporting on learners’ achievement using a rich array of data accumulated over a period of time, from both formative and summative assessments,” he said.

He went on to congratulate all candidates, wishing them the best as they prepare to transition.

“Congratulations to all candidates as they transition!”

Parents, teachers and learners across the country now await Senior School placement results, expected to shape learners’ future careers by aligning them with fields where they can best excel. Education experts have termed the transition a major test for the CBE rollout, as Senior School institutions prepare to receive students under the new structure.

The Ministry assured the public that placement will be fair and transparent, guided by learners’ choices, performance profiles, and available space in schools offering the respective pathways.