The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially opened registration for Grade 10 learners under the Competency-Based Assessment system, marking a key step in the rollout of senior school evaluation under the new education framework.
Highlights:
- KNEC opens Grade 10 registration on CBA portal
- Schools given deadline of July 30, 2026 to complete enrolment
- Exercise targets pioneer senior school cohort under CBE
- Assessments to include projects, practicals and written tests
- Grade 10 and 11 assessments to contribute 30% of final KCBE score
Main Story:
KNEC Launches Key Registration Exercise
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has opened the registration of Grade 10 learners on the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal, requiring all senior school institutions to complete the exercise by July 30, 2026.
In a directive to school principals, KNEC confirmed that only registered senior school assessment centres will be allowed to enrol learners for the upcoming assessments.
Schools Directed to Use CBA Portal
Schools have been instructed to register learners through the School-Based Assessment (SBA) portal, which will be used to manage and track assessments under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
Each institution will access the system using a newly generated universal centre code, which will serve as login credentials for the portal.
Structure of the Assessments
The Grade 10 assessments will include a mix of projects, practical assignments, and written tests conducted within schools. Projects and practical work will run between May and September, while written assessments will be completed during the third term, ending in October 2026.
Schools are also required to upload learner scores and maintain proper records for verification and reporting purposes.
Part of Broader CBE Transition
KNEC noted that the exercise is a crucial step in implementing the Competency-Based Education system, as the current Grade 10 learners form the pioneer senior school cohort.
Under the new framework, school-based assessments for Grades 10 and 11 will each contribute 15 per cent to the final Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE), making up 30 per cent of the total score. The remaining 70 per cent will come from the Grade 12 national examination.
Preparing for Full Implementation
The registration exercise is also expected to help KNEC build a comprehensive database of learners as the country transitions fully into the new education system.
Education stakeholders continue to monitor the rollout closely, with the assessment structure seen as central to measuring learners’ skills, competencies, and subject mastery over the senior school cycle.
