Learners in Grades 6 and 9 will no longer receive certificates after completing the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Instead, they will be issued a transition report at the end of Grade 6 and a descriptive transcript at the end of Grade 9, marking a major change under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
The new documents will not display traditional grades such as A, B, C, or D, nor the actual marks scored. This information will only be shared with the Ministry of Education for placement purposes into senior school.
Certification will now only be awarded at the completion of basic education — at the end of Grade 12.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the decision aims to end unhealthy academic competition and reduce pressure among young learners.
“The award of certificates at primary level in the 8-4-4 system introduced undue competition and discouraged children who, at a very young age, would be considered as having failed. The new approach motivates learners by showing progress through detailed transcripts,” Ogamba told the Nation.
He explained that the new assessment model will present each learner’s performance in specific competencies, allowing them to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
For example, a pupil could perform below expectations in mathematics but exceed expectations in English or art, which helps them focus on areas where they excel.
At the end of senior school, learners will be awarded the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education, indicating their mastery of competencies and readiness for higher education or vocational training.
Ogamba also announced that results for the 2025 KPSEA and KJSEA will be released in December, while those for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will be out in January 2026.
“The 2025 KCSE examinations began on October 21, starting with oral papers in French, German, Arabic and Kenyan Sign Language. Practical exams commenced on October 29 and will continue until October 31,” he said.
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said that 996,078 students are sitting for the KCSE exams this year.
In addition, more than 2.4 million learners are taking part in the KPSEA and KJSEA assessments that began on Monday, October 27.
Of these, 1,130,669 learners are in Grade 9 sitting the KJSEA, while 1,298,089 Grade 6 pupils are taking the KPSEA. In total, KNEC is overseeing examinations and assessments for 3,424,836 candidates across the country.
Learners in Grade 6 are completing their primary education cycle, while those in Grade 9 are preparing to transition from junior to senior school in January 2026 — a key milestone in implementing Kenya’s new Competency-Based Education framework.
The KPSEA exams are scheduled to end on October 29, while the KJSEA exams will conclude on November 3, 2025.
