Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Kenya introduced the Competency-Based Curriculum in 2017 as a major shift from exam-focused learning. The new system was meant to build skills, talents and practical knowledge while supporting the overall growth of the learner. It placed emphasis on creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, with the aim of preparing young people for modern work and social life.
Alongside the employment issue, debates over Junior School governance continue. Junior School teachers want full autonomy, but the government supports a Comprehensive School model that places both primary and junior sections under one administration.
The circular also details the schedule for major national examinations. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment and Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment will run for five days starting October 26, while the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment will also begin on the same date and last seven days. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations are scheduled from November 2 to November 20, covering three weeks.
The funds, disbursed on January 2, 2026, are intended to facilitate school operations and ensure all learners access quality education without interruptions.
In a statement issued on December 31, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said day secondary and C4 day senior school learners continue to pay zero fees under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme, while government capitation of Sh22,244 per learner remains unchanged.
In a press statement issued on December 30, 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba said the placement exercise began on December 14 and ran until December 19, when the initial results were released.
Despite the high number of rejected requests, the ministry said the exercise has largely met learner preferences, with 88 percent of students placed according to their original or revised choices.
The placement process relies on an automated system designed to ensure fairness, merit, and equity by matching students’ performance to available slots. Corrections such as gender errors were also handled during the review period.
President Ruto has pledged Sh44 billion for school transition, 10,000 acres of land allocation, Sh1.5 billion for power connections and Sh390 million for a new market in Narok County.
Kenya has 204 national schools (Cluster One), 692 extra-county schools (Cluster Two), 1,373 county schools (Cluster Three), and 7,234 sub-county schools (Cluster Four), the largest and lowest-ranked group.
A total of 1,130,459 learners sat the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), including 578,630 boys, representing 51.19 per cent, and 551,829 girls, making up 48.81 per cent. Learners who recorded an “Approaching Expectation” outcome are scheduled to report to senior school in Grade 10 on January 12, 2026, where they will pursue studies in STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports
The approval notice, released on Tuesday, December 23, confirms curriculum support materials that meet required standards for senior school learners. It also outlines how learning at this level will be organised, with Grade 10 learners expected to undertake seven learning areas that combine compulsory subjects with selected options.
Out of 2,968 candidates who sat for the exams, 1,835 regular and 1,133 retakes, women consistently achieved higher pass rates across most subjects. Among regular candidates, female students scored between 55.5% and 58.5%, while male students managed between 41.5% and 44.5%.
In a statement on Sunday, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Julius K. Bitok, confirmed that the placement exercise was conducted through an automated system designed to ensure merit, equity, and fairness.
The former President congratulated the graduands on their hard work and praised Kabarak University for fostering excellence, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. He highlighted the vision of the late President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, noting that the university continues to uphold its founding principles of faith, service, and academic excellence.
CS Ogamba acknowledged that the recent strike by university staff, though disruptive, brought attention to valid concerns over delayed salary payments and contract implementation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, December 18, KNEC said the certificates were sent to all schools nationwide using Sub-County Directors of Education as the main distribution channel. Candidates were advised to contact the schools where they sat their examinations to obtain the certificates.
PS Bitok said the Ministry of Education values the partnership it enjoys with teachers’ unions, describing it as critical to the successful implementation of ongoing and future reforms in the sector.
Experts say the surge in small, often unplanned schools has worsened the teacher shortage, particularly in remote areas. Emmanuel Manyasa, Executive Director of Usawa Agenda, noted that having multiple small schools in one locality creates staffing pressures, as each requires the same number of teachers regardless of student numbers.
Learners were examined across nine learning areas: English; Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language; Mathematics; Integrated Science; Agriculture and Nutrition; Social Studies; Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE); Creative Arts and Sports; and Pre-Technical Studies.
Ogamba also addressed concerns that had emerged last month when some parents and school heads raised questions about possible fee changes under the Competency-Based Curriculum. In November, he dismissed any talk of revised charges, saying the ministry had not altered the rates set earlier.
To further bolster the education system, Ruto revealed that 76,000 teachers have already been recruited, with plans to increase that number to 100,000 by next month,marking the largest teacher recruitment drive in Kenya’s history.
Nationally, the ministry’s data showed that 642,620 learners, representing 56.84 per cent of the total, were within the recommended age range of 14 to 15 years. Overall, 1,130,459 learners participated in the 2025 KJSEA, a key milestone in implementing the competency-based curriculum. Of these, 578,630 were male and 551,829 female, making up 51.19 per cent and 48.81 per cent respectively.
Ogamba also revealed that girls recorded stronger results than boys in Exceeding Expectation in 10 of the 12 subjects assessed. He said the widest gap appeared in Kiswahili, where 64.86 per cent of girls exceeded expectations compared to 51.41 per cent of boys. Girls also led in CRE with 59.77 per cent compared to 48.39 per cent of boys.
Releasing the 2025 KJSEA results, Ogamba said the ministry was satisfied with how the assessments were carried out across the country, noting that teams on the ground acted quickly whenever challenges arose.
Creative Arts and Sports emerged as the best-performed area, with 96.84 percent of learners meeting or going beyond expectations. Agriculture followed closely at 96.2 percent, while Kiswahili and Social Studies posted 93.11 percent and 92.93 percent respectively.
According to the ministry’s figures, 642,620 learners — 56.84 per cent — were within the recommended age of 14 to 15 years, which Ogamba said showed better alignment between learner age and their level of study.
Announcing the inaugural Grade 9 results at the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters in Nairobi, Ogamba said female learners met or exceeded expectations in 10 of the 12 subjects assessed.
As mandated by law, the commission handles the recruitment, registration, employment, assignment, promotion, transfer, discipline and termination of teachers in public learning institutions. In July, it introduced automatic promotions aimed at speeding up career growth for deserving tutors based on performance, while retaining competitive promotions for those rising to higher ranks.
In its latest assessment released during the state of human rights address, the commission noted that although the Constitution guarantees every child free and compulsory basic education, the reality on the ground is far from what the law envisions.