KNEC Requires Submission of KJSEA Nominal Rolls by May 9th
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has instructed schools to submit the nominal rolls for the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) by this Friday.
These nominal rolls are created after students are registered on the KNEC platform, with the registration period for Grade 9 learners concluding on March 28th. Schools must submit the nominal rolls along with additional documents to the Sub County Directors of Education to finalize their center registration for the upcoming assessments.
School Heads (HOIs) are required to include a return envelope and a declaration form for both regular and special schools. The declaration form mandates that school heads verify and confirm the accuracy of candidates’ names, ensuring there are no duplicates, and that all candidates possess assessment numbers. They must also check that subject entries for candidates with special needs and those taking Religious Education are correctly recorded.
The return envelope should contain the contact details of the school and the Headteacher.
Grade 9 KJSEA candidates will begin their national assessment alongside Grade 6 KPSEA on October 27th this year. The KPSEA will last four days, from October 27th to 30th, while the KJSEA will span nine days, from October 27th to November 6th, 2025.
The national assessments will commence with projects running from May to July. In May, candidates will start with a Creative Arts and Sports project, continuing through July, followed by a Pre-Technical Studies project. KNEC will provide schools with the project details and guidelines.
KNEC has already trained teachers, referred to as examiners, who will evaluate this year’s KJSEA, with the training having taken place in April.
Over four million candidates are anticipated to participate in various assessments across four levels: KCSE, KPSEA, KJSEA, and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) for special needs students, presenting logistical and educational challenges for KNEC. This year marks the inaugural administration of both KJSEA and KPLEA.
There are concerns regarding the complexity and novelty of the assessments, as well as the large number of students involved.
Under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition plan, 60% of the Grade 9 score will derive from the KJSEA, with 20% from School-Based Assessments conducted in Grades 7 and 8, and another 20% from KPSEA. Mathematics will no longer be a mandatory subject for students transitioning to senior secondary school, representing a significant change under the CBC, which has now evolved into Competency-Based Education (CBE).
Students will instead be required to take English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning as compulsory subjects, while selecting from a range of 38 options to tailor their academic and career paths. This is a departure from the previous 8-4-4 system, where Mathematics was a core subject alongside English, Kiswahili, and at least two sciences (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology).
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang announced that Grade 9 learners, the first cohort under the CBC, will begin selecting their subjects and senior schools in the second term of this year. “We are allowing them time to consult with their parents about their interests and future aspirations. The selection process will commence as soon as they return to school,” he stated.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education has proposed a cap on the number of students from a single junior secondary school who can enroll in the same senior school, limiting it to a maximum of five. This change aims to enhance diversity in placements, though some stakeholders believe it may be overly ambitious, particularly for day schools that draw students from local areas.
KNEC announced that the final Grade 9 score will be determined by students’ performance in primary school, internal assessments conducted by teachers, and their scores in the national KJSEA at the end of the year. The KJSEA will account for 60% of the final score and will also influence the student’s placement in senior secondary school. The remaining 40% will be evenly divided between scores from internal assessments and primary school performance.
Students who are unhappy with their placements will have the opportunity to request transfers, subject to available spaces after reporting. For private candidates—those not enrolled in formal educational institutions—placement will only be available in day senior secondary schools.
Senior schools will now be categorized into three main academic pathways to accommodate the diverse interests and abilities of learners.
Triple Pathway Schools will offer three distinct areas of study: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), social sciences, and arts and sports. However, students will not be required to take all three; they can choose a pathway that aligns with their strengths and aspirations.
Double Pathway Schools will provide either STEM and social sciences or STEM and arts. Meanwhile, Vocational and Special Needs Pathway Schools will focus on learners with disabilities, such as autism and cerebral palsy, offering hands-on vocational training tailored to their capabilities.
To further streamline placement, the ministry has classified senior schools into three categories based on accommodation: day schools and hybrid schools (which will accommodate both boarding and day students), with specific provisions for boys-only, girls-only, or mixed-gender setups. Special needs schools will exclusively serve learners with hearing, visual, or physical impairments and will be equipped with the necessary resources to support them.