On this page
TL;DR:
- CBE (Competency-Based Education) is the new name for the CBC system. The Ministry of Education announced the change in April 2025. The structure, the grades and the learners are the same.
- A child spends 2 years in pre-primary, 6 in primary, 3 in junior school and 3 in senior school. That is the 2-6-3-3 structure, from PP1 to Grade 12.
- There are three national assessments: KPSEA in Grade 6, KJSEA in Grade 9 and a final Grade 12 assessment for the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE). The first KCBE sitting is planned for November 2028.
- Earlier work counts. KPSEA (20%) and Grade 7 and 8 school-based work (20%) make up 40% of the KJSEA result that guides senior school placement. Grade 10 and 11 school-based work make up 30% of the final senior school result.
- CBE reports levels, not mean grades. KPSEA uses four levels. KJSEA uses eight. KNEC says there is no aggregate score and no school mean in KJSEA.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for Kenyan parents and guardians who want the whole picture in one place. You might have a child in PP2 and another in Grade 8, and you may have studied under 8-4-4 yourself.
We go level by level, from pre-primary to Grade 12. At each level we cover what your child learns, how they are assessed and what you can do at home.
Everything here was checked on 11 November 2026. If your child is joining or already in Grade 10, our Grade 10 parents' guide and pathway guide go much deeper.
CBC or CBE: are they the same thing?
Yes. CBE is the same system under a new name. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok launched the change on 24 April 2025, at the National Conversation Forum on Education.
The Ministry presented it as part of a wider review, aimed at simpler learning pathways and education that is more affordable, accessible and practical.
You will still see "CBC" everywhere. KICD's website keeps its curriculum documents under a CBC materials section. Teachers, schools and WhatsApp groups use both names. When someone says CBC and someone else says CBE, they mean the same thing.
What "competency-based" means
A competency is something a learner can do with what they know. KICD says the curriculum "focuses on what the learner can do as opposed to just what one can remember".
KICD's Basic Education Curriculum Framework names seven core competencies that every learner should build:
- Communication and collaboration
- Self-efficacy (belief in your own ability)
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Creativity and imagination
- Citizenship
- Digital literacy
- Learning to learn
That is why your child brings home projects and group work as well as tests.
What changed in the 2024 review
Learners now carry fewer subjects. After the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform reported, the Ministry and KICD cut the number of learning areas, with the changes taking effect in January 2024.
| Level | Learning areas before | Learning areas after |
|---|---|---|
| Lower primary (Grades 1 to 3) | 9 | 7 |
| Upper primary (Grades 4 to 6) | 10 | 8 |
| Junior school (Grades 7 to 9) | 14 | 9 |
Foreign languages and indigenous languages became co-curricular in upper primary and junior school. A "learning area" is simply the CBE word for a subject.
The whole system on one page
Here is every level in one table. Ages are typical, not strict rules.
| Level | Grades | Typical age | What is assessed nationally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-primary | PP1, PP2 | 4 and 5 | Nothing national |
| Lower primary | Grades 1 to 3 | From about 6 | KEYA in Grade 3 (school-based) |
| Upper primary | Grades 4 to 6 | About 9 to 11 | School-based work in Grades 4 and 5; KPSEA in Grade 6 |
| Junior school | Grades 7 to 9 | About 12 to 14 | School-based work in Grades 7 and 8; KJSEA in Grade 9 |
| Senior school | Grades 10 to 12 | About 15 to 17 | School-based work in Grades 10 and 11; final Grade 12 assessment for the KCBE |
The pre-primary ages come from the Ministry's National Pre-Primary Education Policy, which covers children aged 4 and 5. KICD's framework says learners join Grade 1 at about 6 years of age. The later ages follow from that, one year per grade.
KICD's framework also groups the levels into three bands. Early Years Education covers PP1 to Grade 3. Middle School covers Grades 4 to 9. Senior School covers Grades 10 to 12.
One more thing to know early. KNEC gives each learner an assessment number in Grade 3, and KNEC's senior school circular says Grade 10 learners are registered with the same number they first got in Grade 3. Keep it safe from the start.
Pre-primary (PP1 and PP2)
Pre-primary is two years of learning through play, for children aged 4 and 5. County governments are responsible for it. The pre-primary policy describes it as their constitutional mandate.
What children learn. Five activity areas: Language, Mathematical, Creative, Environmental and Religious Activities. There is also a weekly pastoral or religious instruction programme. The Star listed 25 lessons a week at this level after the 2024 review.
How they are assessed. There is no national test. Teachers observe and record progress in class.
What you can do at home. These are our suggestions, in line with what KICD asks of parents.
- Talk with your child a lot, in any language you speak at home. Name things, count things, ask "why do you think...?"
- Read aloud for a few minutes most days. Point at pictures and let them tell you the story.
- Give simple chores. KICD's parent guidelines ask parents to involve children in "play and age-appropriate chores".
Lower primary (Grades 1 to 3)
Lower primary builds reading, writing and number skills. It is still part of Early Years Education, so learning stays practical.
What children learn. Seven learning areas, as listed in December 2023: Indigenous Language Activities, Kiswahili (or Kenyan Sign Language), English, Mathematical Activities, Religious Education Activities, Environmental Activities and Creative Activities. A pastoral programme runs alongside.
How they are assessed. In Grade 3, learners take the Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA). It is school-based. Teachers run the tasks, score them and upload the results to KNEC's portal. KNEC's 2024 circular describes an integrated learning assessment plus written tests in Mathematics and English Activities. Results are recorded on a four-level rubric: Exceeding, Meeting, Approaching or Below expectations.
What you can do at home.
- Listen to your child read every day, even for ten minutes. Ask what happened, and what might happen next.
- Use real life for maths: counting coins, sharing fruit, telling the time, measuring with a cup.
- Ask the class teacher to confirm that your child is registered and has an assessment number.
- If reading seems far behind classmates by Grade 2, speak to the teacher early. Small gaps are easier to close at this age.
Upper primary (Grades 4 to 6)
Upper primary is the start of Middle School, and Grade 6 brings the first national assessment that every learner sits at the same time.
What children learn. Eight learning areas, as listed on KICD's Grade 5 designs page and in The Star's December 2023 report. Foreign and indigenous languages sit outside these eight:
- English
- Kiswahili (or Kenyan Sign Language)
- Mathematics
- Science and Technology
- Social Studies
- Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE)
- Agriculture (with Nutrition)
- Creative Arts
How they are assessed. Grades 4 and 5 have school-based assessment. KNEC's circular describes projects, practicals and performance tasks, plus written tests, with scores uploaded by schools.
In Grade 6, learners sit the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA). Here is what parents should know about it:
- The papers. Learners sit Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Integrated Science, and Creative Arts and Social Studies, over three days.
- The format. The Standard reports that KPSEA uses only multiple-choice questions, which KNEC marks by scanner.
- It does not decide placement. Learners move up to junior school automatically. The Standard puts it plainly: KPSEA "will not determine where the candidates join junior secondary school".
- It still counts later. The KPSEA result makes up 20% of the final KJSEA result three years on, which guides senior school placement.
- The scale. Each subject is reported at one of four levels: Level 4 Exceeding Expectations, Level 3 Meeting Expectations, Level 2 Approaching Expectations and Level 1 Below Expectations.
In 2026, 1,380,463 learners sat KPSEA. The 2027 KPSEA is set for 1 to 5 November 2027.
What you can do at home.
- Treat KPSEA calmly. It is a check on learning, not a do-or-die exam. Your calm sets your child's mood.
- Ask each term: "Which projects and tests did you do, and did you miss any?" Missed school-based tasks are easy to lose track of.
- Help with project materials and planning, but leave the thinking and making to your child. Our guide on CBC revision at home explains where the line sits.
- Build reading stamina. Every KPSEA paper is read, so a child who reads for pleasure is better prepared in every subject.
Junior school (Grades 7 to 9)
Junior school is the second half of Middle School. Learners go deeper in nine subjects, and Grade 9 ends with the assessment that shapes senior school placement.
Where it happens. Junior school stays inside primary school compounds. In March 2026, Education CS Julius Ogamba told the Senate that "junior schools will continue operating within existing primary schools". He cited learner welfare and cost.
What children learn. Nine learning areas, all compulsory. The Star's KJSEA explainer lists them:
- English (or Kenyan Sign Language)
- Kiswahili
- Mathematics
- Integrated Science
- Agriculture
- Social Studies
- Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE)
- Creative Arts and Sports
- Pre-Technical Studies
How they are assessed. Grades 7 and 8 have school-based assessment. In Grade 9, learners sit the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
The final KJSEA result is built from three parts, according to The Star's report on the first KJSEA results. Senior school placement then matches that result to the pathway requirements, alongside your child's interests, school capacity and distance from home.
| Part | When | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| KPSEA | Grade 6 | 20% |
| School-based assessment | Grades 7 and 8 | 20% |
| KJSEA | Grade 9 | 60% |
So 40% of that result is set before your child sits a single KJSEA paper.
The KJSEA scale. Each subject is reported on eight levels. Here is the scale as reported for 2025:
| Level | Points | Score range |
|---|---|---|
| EE1 (Exceeding Expectation) | 8 | 90–100% |
| EE2 (Exceeding Expectation) | 7 | 75–89% |
| ME1 (Meeting Expectation) | 6 | 58–74% |
| ME2 (Meeting Expectation) | 5 | 41–57% |
| AE1 (Approaching Expectation) | 4 | 31–40% |
| AE2 (Approaching Expectation) | 3 | 21–30% |
| BE1 (Below Expectation) | 2 | 11–20% |
| BE2 (Below Expectation) | 1 | 1–10% |
KNEC told the public that "KJSEA does not provide an aggregate score", and that there is "no mean grade or school mean score". If someone shares a school "mean score", KNEC has called that kind of analysis fake.
Where we are now. 1,206,028 learners sat KJSEA in October 2026. KNEC aims to have results ready for the Ministry by December, and learners are expected to be placed in and report to senior school in January 2027.
What you can do at home.
- Take Grades 7 and 8 seriously. Ask to see school-based marks each term, and ask how they were scored.
- Keep a simple folder of your child's projects and reports. It helps with the pathway conversation in Grade 9.
- Start talking about interests in Grade 8, not in the week of selection. Ask what your child enjoys and does well, and listen more than you advise.
- Watch Mathematics closely. It shapes pathway options in senior school, and gaps grow fast at this level.
Senior school (Grades 10 to 12)
Senior school is where learners specialise. The first class joined Grade 10 in January 2026, so Grades 11 and 12 are still ahead for everyone.
What learners study. Each learner takes seven subjects. The Nation's explainer lists four compulsory ones: English, Kiswahili (or Kenyan Sign Language), Mathematics (Core or Essential) and Community Service Learning. The other three are electives. Senior school is organised into three pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science. Physical Education, ICT skills and a pastoral programme run for all learners alongside these.
Choosing a pathway and a subject combination is a big decision. We cover it step by step in how to choose a Grade 10 pathway, so we will not repeat it here.
How they are assessed. KNEC's senior school plan, set out in a circular from its chief executive and reported by The Star in June 2026, splits the final KCBE score like this:
| Part | Weight |
|---|---|
| Grade 10 school-based assessment (projects, practicals, written tests) | 15% |
| Grade 11 school-based assessment | 15% |
| Grade 12 national assessment | 70% |
KNEC plans to pilot the senior school summative assessment in 2027, while the first class is in Grade 11. The first full sitting is planned for November 2028. Learners who complete it will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE). The Star reports that the KCBE will be the only official basic education certificate under CBE.
What about KCSE? The 2027 KCSE is the last. KNEC's chief executive said of the 2027 sitting: "This will be the last KCSE examination under the 8-4-4 system". It runs from 8 to 26 November 2027. Today's Form 3 class is the final KCSE group. Our post on KCSE grades, points and mean grades covers how that older system scores.
What is still undecided. We could not find a published KNEC grading scale for the KCBE. University entry rules are also unfinished. In May 2026, KUCCPS said it will place the first CBE learners from 2029 using the pathway model. Its chief executive said, "We are going to have a new criteria." Cut-offs and minimum subject grades are still being worked out.
What you can do at home.
- Remember that Grade 10 and Grade 11 marks count. Ask when projects and practicals are scored.
- Support projects with time and materials, never with the work itself. Projects that count for marks must be the learner's own.
- Keep an eye on the three electives and the type of Maths on the school's records. Mistakes are easier to fix early.
- Our Grade 10 parents' guide has the full list of questions to ask the school.
How to read a CBE result
CBE describes how well a learner meets expectations in each subject. 8-4-4 gave letter grades and a mean. That is the biggest change for parents.
A useful way to read a CBE report is to look at the pattern across subjects. Two subjects at Below Expectation and the rest at Meeting tell you exactly where to help. A single average would hide that.
Education CS Julius Ogamba added one reassuring point, reported by The Star: an Approaching Expectation grade is sufficient to progress to senior school pathways that need basic competency in that subject.
Learners with special needs
Some learners with special needs take their own national assessments. The 2027 school calendar, for example, schedules KILEA and KPLEA in the same week as KPSEA and KJSEA. Ask the school which assessments apply to your child, and make sure they are registered.
Key dates, as of 11 November 2026
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 2026 | KJSEA 2026 results expected (no exact date published) |
| 4 January 2027 | Term 1 opens |
| January 2027 | Grade 9 learners placed in senior school and report to Grade 10 |
| 2027 | Pilot of the senior school summative assessment, while the first CBE class is in Grade 11 |
| 1 to 5 November 2027 | KPSEA and KJSEA 2027 |
| 8 to 26 November 2027 | KCSE 2027, the last KCSE |
| November 2028 | First KCBE national assessment, for the first CBE class |
| 2029 | First CBE learners expected at university |
Common mix-ups
| What people say | What is true |
|---|---|
| "CBE is a different curriculum from CBC." | Same system, new name since April 2025. |
| "KPSEA decides which junior school my child joins." | It does not. Learners move up automatically. It counts 20% towards senior school placement later. |
| "Only Grade 9 matters for senior school." | KJSEA is 60%. KPSEA and Grades 7 and 8 school work make up the other 40%. |
| "Our school got a mean of 6.2 in KJSEA." | KNEC says there is no mean grade or school mean score in KJSEA. |
| "Grade 10 marks don't count." | Grade 10 and Grade 11 school work are each reported at 15% of the final result. |
Questions people ask
Is CBE the same as CBC?
Yes. The Ministry of Education renamed the Competency-Based Curriculum as Competency-Based Education in April 2025, as part of a wider review. The levels, grades and assessments carry on. Many official documents still say CBC.
Does KPSEA matter if it does not decide placement?
Yes. Its result makes up 20% of the final KJSEA result three years later, which guides senior school placement. It also gives you an early, outside check on how your child is doing in each subject.
When does my child sit the final exam?
Learners in Grade 10 today are expected to sit the first Grade 12 national assessment in November 2028. Grade 10 and Grade 11 school work make up 30% of the final result, so the final exam is not the only thing that counts.
Will my child get a certificate?
At the end of Grade 12, learners will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE). Reports say it will be the only official basic education certificate under CBE.
Can I see what my child is meant to learn?
Yes. KICD publishes curriculum designs for each grade on its website. They are written for teachers, but the learning outcomes tell you what a child should be able to do by the end of each grade.
Sources
All last checked 11 November 2026.
Official
- KICD, Basic Education Curriculum Framework (2019), last checked 11 November 2026
- KICD, Frequently asked questions, last checked 11 November 2026
- KICD, Curriculum designs by grade, last checked 11 November 2026
- KICD, Grade 5 curriculum designs, last checked 11 November 2026
- KICD, Grade 8 curriculum designs, last checked 11 November 2026
- KICD and Ministry of Education, Guidelines on Parental Empowerment and Engagement, last checked 11 November 2026
- Ministry of Education, National Pre-Primary Education Policy (August 2017), via KSG Knowledge Hub, last checked 11 November 2026
- KNEC circular on 2024 Competency Based Assessments for Grades 3, 4 and 5, via Teachers Arena (13 June 2024), last checked 11 November 2026
News and education press
- Kenyans.co.ke, "Ministry of Education changes CBC to CBE" (25 April 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Standard, "Education ministry announces major changes to CBC curriculum" (21 December 2023), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, Ministry reduces subjects in lower and upper primary (21 December 2023), last checked 11 November 2026
- K24 Digital, "7 things every parent should know about the new KNEC Grade 3 portal" (6 October 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Standard, "Spotlight shifts to KCSE as KPSEA wraps up" (30 October 2024), last checked 11 November 2026
- Kenyans.co.ke, how KNEC grades KPSEA (25 January 2024), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, CS Ogamba on junior schools in primary schools (12 March 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, how candidates were graded in KJSEA (11 December 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, "Explainer: inside the new CBE grading system" (13 December 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, KNEC explains KJSEA grading (15 December 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, KJSEA and KCSE practicals end (30 October 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Standard, "KNEC begins marking KJSEA scripts" (6 November 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- Nation, "Explainer: how senior school works" (22 January 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- Teachers Arena, "The Road to KCBE: KNEC unveils the roadmap for senior school assessments", reporting a circular from KNEC CEO David Njengere (10 May 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, KNEC opens Grade 10 assessment registration (25 June 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, how learner placement in senior school will be done (3 February 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Star, "Explainer: KCSE to KCBE, new era of national exams" (4 November 2025), last checked 11 November 2026
- The Standard, KNEC call for KCSE candidates as 8-4-4 ends (30 June 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- Kenyans.co.ke, 2027 school calendar (4 November 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
- Radio Generation Kenya, KUCCPS to place first CBE learners from 2029 (23 May 2026), last checked 11 November 2026
Where FuKazee fits in
FuKazee trains people in tech, the future of work and the future of careers, and we have trained more than 3,000 people since 2022. We also run holiday tuition in Westlands, Nairobi, with TSC-registered teachers.
Most of what helps a child under CBE happens at home and costs nothing: reading together, talking about the day's lesson, and keeping track of school-based work. Start there.
If your child has a specific gap you can name, our Grade 10 holiday tuition runs from 9 November to about 11 December 2026. For the last KCSE class, our Form 3 holiday tuition started on 2 November. We will not do project work for any learner, and we will not promise a placement or a result.
If you are unsure which level's rules apply to your child, or what a report means, write to us and tell us the grade and the question.
To ask a question, email us at lead@fukazee.com.
Want guided support instead?
Give revision a structure, from KSh 300. FuKazee study plans cover 13 KCSE subjects. Choose the subjects that matter most for the mean grade and get a plan your child can actually follow.
Rodney has run FuKazee's training since 2022 and still teaches inside every programme line: corporate sessions, the postgraduate cohort and the KCSE examiner webinars. First Class Honours in Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Nairobi.
