KCPE vs KJSEA: Differences in Grading and Secondary School Enrolment.
Students currently in grade nine under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) are set to undertake their final examination in November, marking their transition to senior secondary school next year.
This new system, replacing the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, introduces a significantly different approach to assessment and placement into secondary schools.
A Shift from Single-Exam Assessment
Unlike KCPE, which relied on a single high-stakes examination at the end of eight years in primary school, the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) will implement a more comprehensive approach.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Njengere explained that students’ performances would not only be evaluated based on the final KJSEA examination but also through a cumulative summative assessment covering grades seven and eight.
Njengere emphasized that assessments conducted in grade seven and eight would be school-based, ensuring that students’ competency acquisition is tracked throughout their education rather than being judged by a single final exam.
He highlighted that this strategy moves away from high-stakes exams and instead provides a holistic view of students’ academic progression.
Career Aspirations and Pathway Selection
In addition to academic assessments, students will be required to complete a questionnaire outlining their career interests and future aspirations. This questionnaire will play a crucial role in determining their placement in senior secondary school classes, aligning with the competency-based framework.
The senior secondary education structure comprises three broad pathways, categorized based on students’ interests and academic strengths. The first pathway, ‘Arts and Sports,’ includes subjects in Sports Science, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts.
The second, ‘Social Sciences,’ covers Languages and Literature, Humanities, and Business Studies. The final pathway, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), encompasses Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Technical and Engineering Studies, and Careers and Technology Studies.
To provide students with greater flexibility, the system allows them to pursue two pathways, broadening their opportunities across different disciplines.
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Restructuring Secondary School Enrolment
To align with the competency-based approach, the traditional categorization of schools—National Schools, Extra County Schools, and County Schools—will be abolished. Instead, grade 10 classes will be integrated into existing high schools, replacing the current form one entry.
With this shift, secondary schools have not admitted form one students this year. The transition from the 8-4-4 system will be completed by 2027, when the current form two students sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, marking the full implementation of the CBC framework.
KCPE vs KJSEA: Differences in Grading and Secondary School Enrolment.
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