Kenya’s Ministry of Education plans to notify Grade 10 learners of their senior school placements before Christmas, under a government system that prioritises top performers in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for their chosen institutions.
The move aims to allow parents and guardians time to prepare ahead of the Jan. 12, 2026, reporting date for senior schools.
Placement begins this week following the release of KJSEA results by Thursday, the ministry said. The electronic process will be handled by the ministry, with admission letters issued via the National Education Management Information System (Nemis).
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba last week said the ministry would work continuously to release results promptly, ensuring parents have sufficient time for the transition to senior school.
Results for the 1.1 million candidates will be available on the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) portal, accessible using each learner’s assessment number.
A ministry document states that the top six learners per gender in each science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) track per sub-county will be placed in their chosen boarding schools. The top three per gender in social sciences tracks and top two in arts and sports sciences tracks per sub-county will also secure their preferred boarding schools.
NEW SCORING SYSTEM
KJSEA results introduce an eight-level quantitative score per learning area, expanding the competency-based curriculum’s four-level system of exceeding, meeting, approaching or below expectations. Each level splits into two points.
A candidate exceeding expectations in mathematics, for example, would score seven or eight, while one below expectations would score one or two. Learners achieving seven or eight in their tracks qualify for preferred boarding schools.
Knec Chief Executive David Njeng’ere said the reporting change manages stakes and follows global practices.
“We will not report a percentage score. Candidates will have points on a range of one to eight for each learning area. It is this that the Ministry of Education will use to place them to senior school,” Njeng’ere said.
“The purpose of junior school is to expose the learner to a broad curriculum, then assess them and use their performance to place them in career pathways and tracks in senior school,” he said.
“If your child has gotten four or five, six or three, you can tell if he or she is very strong or weak in mathematics, English, creative arts or the rest of the subjects,” he said.
The final score combines 20% from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), 20% from formative assessments in Grades Seven and Eight, and 60% from the recent KJSEA.
“From KPSEA we have 20 per cent then we have another 20 per cent from the school-based assessments; that is 40 per cent. Then we have the summative KJSEA which they sat for recently which gives us 60 per cent,” Njeng’ere said.
“We do not want to subject a child to one assessment to tell their abilities. We wanted it to be something we see it grow over a period of time,” he said.
PLACEMENT DETAILS
Cluster 1 schools, formerly national schools under the 8-4-4 system, will offer all three pathways: Stem, social sciences, and arts and sports. Day schools will provide two pathways.
Learners previously selected 12 preferred senior schools: nine boarding options (three in their home county, six elsewhere) and three day schools in their sub-county.
Certain schools, such as Starehe Boys Centre, conduct pre-selections outside the open placement process.
The ministry document specifies that all public and private schools will admit Grade 10 learners through Nemis. Principals cannot register a learner until physical reporting, with the ministry monitoring daily.
Learners seeking school changes must request through their junior school heads at least two weeks before the reporting date.
“Priority shall be given to those who had earlier selected the schools they are requesting. Approvals by MoE shall be based on senior schools’ documented capacity,” the document states.
“Upon a request’s approval, the joining instructions shall be accessed online; at no time shall a school issue printed letters for replacement cases,” it adds.
Replacements are one-time and irreversible.
CAREER GUIDANCE
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Director Charles Ong’ondo said teachers, parents and guardians should discuss career paths with learners after results release.
“Because they will now have their results, let’s talk to them together with their parents to help them make well-thought-out decisions,” Ong’ondo said.
“We are in discussions at the stakeholder level to allow children some time to revise what they had earlier chosen,” he said.
RESULTS ACCESS AND SAFEGUARDS
Results appear on the Knec portal via assessment numbers, detailing subject performance. School lists can be obtained by SMS to 22263 with the assessment number, at 30 Kenyan shillings.
Knec has warned against fraudsters offering score changes. “Beware of scams,” Njeng’ere said.
All schools must use the digital platform, under ministry oversight.
BROADER CONTEXT
The process aligns with Kenya’s shift to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), phasing out the 8-4-4 system by 2027. No Form One admissions occur this year, with senior schools operating independently on specialised tracks.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok described the KJSEA as a “historic milestone” and noted logistical support, including exam centre funds.
The exams ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3, with rehearsals on Oct. 24, for 1,145,585 learners.
Placement is merit-based, incorporating gender balance and equity for marginalised groups, ensuring full transition. Over 2.4 million spots exceed candidate numbers.
Knec questionnaires captured aptitudes for pathway matching. Selections occurred in May-June, with automated placement via the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS).
Some parents express concerns over transparency. Educators view KJSEA as a guide rather than a final judgment.
The system seeks to match performance with opportunities under CBC.
