As the country proceeds with the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the Ministry of Education has launched detailed guidelines for the transition of students from junior to senior secondary school.
The action seeks to align the learners’ learning pathways with their abilities and career interests, a significant reform in the country’s education sector.
The pioneer cohort, who are now in Grade 9, will move to Grade 10 in January 2026. As part of the transition process, the students will sit for the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) between October 27 and November 5, 2025.
The KJSEA examination framework consists of a number of assessment components: 20% from the Kenya Primary School Education Examination (KPSEA), 20% from school-based assessment conducted in Grades 7 and 8, and 60% from a final summative assessment at the end of Grade 9.
One of the primary cornerstones of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is its career-based pathways. The students have three main options to choose from: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Arts and Sports Science; and Social Sciences.
The Ministry of Education is hoping that 60% of the students will learn STEM, 15% will learn Arts and Sports Science, and 25% will learn Social Sciences. Every stream is planned thoroughly to suit various academic and career aspirations, equipping students for further study and an evolving job market.
To facilitate their transition, students will select a total of 12 senior schools based on their career path of choice. This selection is distributed as follows: seven schools for their first path and track choice, three for their second choice, and two for their third choice.
Of these nine, nine will be boarding schools—four within the student’s home county and five elsewhere—and three will be day schools within their home sub-county or county.
Placement is thereby linked with the performance of a student in the KJSEA. Students performing well, in most cases, the top two students from either gender per one of the STEM subjects of study in each of the sub-counties will receive placement into the boarding school they prefer. Also, a performing student in Social Sciences as well as in Arts and Sports Science per sub-county shall get admitted to his or her desired boarding school.
For purposes of equality and diversity, placement rules limit the number of students from a single junior school in a single boarding school to five. This ensures that students are distributed fairly across various schools and develops a suitable and diverse learning environment.
Realizing the requirements of students with special needs, the Ministry has established provisions to ensure that they are provided with adequate support. Gifted students in this category will be placed in schools that are specially designed to cater to their needs, providing them with the facilities they require for academic and social success.
For senior school students in Grades 10 to 12, the curriculum requires them to learn seven subjects. Four of them are compulsory: English, Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (KSL), Community Service Learning, and Physical Education. The remaining three subjects are chosen based on the learner’s track and pathway, leaving room for specialized focus in their field of choice.
As a move towards modernization, the Ministry has automated the admission process. Students can now download their admission letters online using their assessment numbers, easing the transition and minimizing administrative delays.
To enhance transparency and address concerns, the Ministry has put in place an arrangement for redress of grievances. Parents and pupils who are not satisfied with placement arrangements can make a complaint through the junior school headteacher of the learner, who will pass the issue to the County Director of Education for action.
