The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has released timetables for the 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA). Examinations began on Monday, marking the start of the transition from the 8-4-4 education system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The two assessments are part of a broader educational reform aimed at shifting focus from traditional exams to continuous evaluation of students’ skills and practical knowledge. KNEC has warned 3.6 million candidates against cheating, emphasizing the importance of integrity during the exams. The CBC system is designed to improve learning outcomes by incorporating more hands-on learning and assessment methods.
This transition follows years of planning and policy development. The 8-4-4 system, which structured education into eight years of primary, four years of secondary, and four years of university, has been replaced by the CBC, which allows for more flexible and student-centered learning. The shift aims to better prepare students for real-world challenges and align Kenya’s education system with global standards.
The start of the KPSEA and KJSEA exams represents a key milestone in this reform. With over 3.6 million students participating, the exams will play a crucial role in evaluating the effectiveness of the new curriculum. KNEC’s emphasis on preventing cheating underscores the importance of maintaining academic standards during this transition. The success of the CBC system will depend on how well students adapt to the new assessment methods and how effectively schools implement the new curriculum.
