By Perez Karisa, July 3, 2026
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has directed all primary and junior school heads to verify the upload status of School-Based Assessment (SBA) scores by July 30, 2026, as preparations intensify for this year’s national assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In an official notice issued to schools, KNEC said heads of institutions must log into their respective Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portals to review, verify and, where necessary, correct learners’ continuous assessment records before the deadline.
The examination council emphasized that the exercise is mandatory and forms a critical part of ensuring that candidates receive accurate final grades based on both continuous assessment and national examination performance.
According to KNEC, school administrators are responsible for confirming that all SBA scores captured over the course of learning have been successfully uploaded and correctly reflected in the council’s database. Any missing or inaccurate records must be corrected before the verification window closes.
The council warned that failure to verify assessment data could negatively affect learners’ final academic profiles, potentially compromising placement decisions and progression to the next level of education.
Under the Competency-Based Curriculum, continuous classroom assessment contributes significantly to a learner’s final performance.
For Grade 6 learners sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), School-Based Assessments conducted during Grades 4, 5 and 6 contribute 40 per cent of the final score, while the national summative examination accounts for the remaining 60 per cent.
For Grade 9 learners preparing for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), continuous assessments undertaken during Grades 7 and 8 contribute 20 per cent of the final grade, with the national examination making up the remaining 80 per cent.
Education officials say the weighting reflects the CBC’s emphasis on continuous learning and competency development rather than relying solely on a single end-of-cycle examination.
Because of this assessment model, accurate SBA records have become increasingly important in determining learners’ overall performance. KNEC noted that omitted, incomplete or incorrect assessment uploads may distort a candidate’s final score and affect placement into senior school.
The verification exercise also serves as a nationwide data-cleaning process ahead of this year’s national examinations.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be administered over three days, from Monday, October 26, to Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will run from Monday, October 26, through Friday, October 30, 2026, marking another major milestone in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
In addition to verifying SBA scores, KNEC has directed schools to complete the registration of Grade 10 learners through the Competency-Based Assessment portal before the same July 30 deadline.
The council cautioned that schools which failed to obtain recognition as official senior school assessment centres during the earlier verification exercise conducted in May will not be allowed to register Grade 10 learners until they meet the required accreditation standards.
Education stakeholders have described the simultaneous verification and registration exercise as essential in ensuring a smooth transition of learners into senior school while maintaining the integrity of the national assessment system.
