KNEC Requires Submission of KJSEA Nominal Rolls by May 9
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has instructed schools to submit the nominal rolls for the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) by this Friday.
These nominal rolls are created after students are registered on the KNEC platform, with the registration for Grade 9 learners concluding on March 28.
Schools must submit the nominal rolls along with additional documents to the Sub County Directors of Education to finalize their center registration for the upcoming assessments.
The required additional documents include a return envelope and a declaration form for both regular and special schools.
The declaration form mandates that school heads verify and confirm the accuracy of candidates’ names, ensuring there are no duplicates.
They must also ensure that all candidates have assessment numbers and that the subject entries for candidates with special needs and those taking Religious Education are correctly recorded.
The return envelope must contain the contact details of the school and the Headteacher.
Grade 9 KJSEA candidates will begin their national assessment alongside Grade 6 KPSEA on October 27 this year.
The KPSEA will last four days, from October 27 to 30, 2025, while the KJSEA will span nine days, from October 27 to November 6, 2025.
However, the national assessments will commence with projects running from May to July.
In May, candidates will start with a Creative Arts and Sports project that will continue until July, followed by a Pre-Technical Studies project in July. KNEC will provide the projects along with guidelines to schools.
KNEC has already trained teachers, referred to as examiners, who will grade this year’s KJSEA, with the training taking place in April.
Over four million candidates are anticipated to participate in various assessments across four levels: KCSE, KPSEA, KJSEA, and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) for special needs students, presenting logistical and educational challenges for KNEC.
This year marks the inaugural administration of KJSEA and KPLEA.
Concerns have been raised regarding the complexity and novelty of the papers, as well as the large number of learners expected to take the tests.
Under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) transition plan, 60% of the Grade 9 score will derive from the KJSEA, 20% from School-Based Assessments conducted in Grades 7 and 8, and another 20% from KPSEA.
Mathematics will no longer be a mandatory subject for students moving on to senior secondary school, representing a significant change under the CBC, which has now transitioned to Competency Based Education (CBE).
Instead, students will be required to take English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning as compulsory subjects, while selecting from a pool of 38 options to guide their academic and career paths.
This represents a departure from the previous 8-4-4 system, where Mathematics was a core subject alongside English, Kiswahili, and at least two sciences (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology).
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang announced that Grade 9 learners—the first cohort of the CBC—will begin choosing their subjects and senior schools in the second term of this year.
“We are allowing them time to consult with their parents about their interests and future aspirations. The selection process will commence as soon as they return to school,” he stated.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education has suggested limiting the number of learners from a single junior secondary school who can join the same senior school to a maximum of five.
This change aims to encourage diversity in placements, although some stakeholders argue it may be overly ambitious, particularly for day schools that draw students from local areas.
KNEC announced on Thursday that the final Grade 9 score will be based on students’ performance in primary school, internal assessments conducted by teachers, and their scores in the national KJSEA, which will take place at the end of the year.
The KJSEA will account for 60% of the final score and will also influence the learner’s placement in senior secondary school.
The remaining 40% will be evenly divided between scores from internal assessments by classroom teachers and scores from primary school.
Learners who are unhappy with their placements will have the opportunity to request transfers, depending on available spaces after reporting.
For private candidates—those not enrolled in formal learning institutions—placement will only be available in day senior secondary schools.
Senior schools will now be categorized into three main academic pathways to accommodate the diverse interests and abilities of learners.
Triple Pathway Schools will offer three distinct areas of study: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), social sciences, and arts and sports.
However, students will not be required to take all three; instead, they will choose a pathway that aligns with their strengths and goals.
Double Pathway Schools will offer either STEM and social sciences or STEM and arts.
Meanwhile, Vocational and Special Needs Pathway Schools will serve learners with disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, and cognitive challenges, focusing on practical vocational training tailored to their abilities.
To further streamline placements, the ministry has classified senior schools into three types based on accommodation: day schools, hybrid schools (which will accommodate both boarding and day students), and special needs schools that will exclusively serve learners with hearing, visual, or physical impairments, equipped with the necessary resources to support them.