The council has warned schools against issuing misleading performance analyses that do not reflect how the new education system works.
This clarification comes after reports that some schools have been sharing results summaries showing overall school scores, rankings, and mean grades.
This clarification comes after reports that some schools have been sharing results summaries showing overall school scores, rankings, and mean grades.
According to KNEC, such reports are incorrect and go against the principles of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system currently being used in Kenyan schools.
In a statement released on Monday, KNEC reminded school administrators and parents that the KJSEA is very different from the former 8-4-4 examination system. Unlike previous national exams, KJSEA does not produce total marks, school mean scores, or national rankings.
The council explained that the new system focuses on understanding each learner’s strengths rather than comparing students or schools against each other.
In a statement released on Monday, KNEC reminded school administrators and parents that the KJSEA is very different from the former 8-4-4 examination system. Unlike previous national exams, KJSEA does not produce total marks, school mean scores, or national rankings.
The council explained that the new system focuses on understanding each learner’s strengths rather than comparing students or schools against each other.
For this reason, generating school rankings or aggregate scores from KJSEA results is misleading and should stop immediately.
“KJSEA does not provide aggregate marks or school mean scores because the goal of Competency-Based Education is to support individual growth, not competition,” the council stated.
Under the CBE system, every subject is assessed on its own. Learners are evaluated based on how well they meet expected learning outcomes rather than how many marks they score overall.
“KJSEA does not provide aggregate marks or school mean scores because the goal of Competency-Based Education is to support individual growth, not competition,” the council stated.
Under the CBE system, every subject is assessed on its own. Learners are evaluated based on how well they meet expected learning outcomes rather than how many marks they score overall.
Their performance is reported using clearly defined achievement levels instead of numerical grades.
KNEC further noted that this method ensures a learner’s strength in one area is recognised, even if they face challenges in another.
KNEC further noted that this method ensures a learner’s strength in one area is recognised, even if they face challenges in another.
This prevents situations where a student’s talent or skill is hidden simply because of weaker performance in a different subject.
The Ministry of Education released the 2025 KJSEA results on Thursday, December 11. The assessment was conducted between October 27 and November 3 and involved the first group of learners who have gone through the Competency-Based Education system since early primary school.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the assessment was designed to determine how ready learners are to move to senior secondary school in January 2026.
The Ministry of Education released the 2025 KJSEA results on Thursday, December 11. The assessment was conducted between October 27 and November 3 and involved the first group of learners who have gone through the Competency-Based Education system since early primary school.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the assessment was designed to determine how ready learners are to move to senior secondary school in January 2026.
He emphasised that the process was not meant to label learners as failures or successes but to guide future learning paths.
According to the Ministry, a total of 1,130,459 learners sat for the 2025 KJSEA. Of these, 578,630 were boys while 551,829 were girls, showing near gender balance in participation.
The best-performing learning areas included Hindu Religious Education, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Creative Arts and Sports, Kiswahili, Christian Religious Education, and Agriculture. These subjects recorded strong outcomes across most regions.
Instead of grades, learners were placed into four performance categories. These include Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Approaching Expectations, and Below Expectations.
According to the Ministry, a total of 1,130,459 learners sat for the 2025 KJSEA. Of these, 578,630 were boys while 551,829 were girls, showing near gender balance in participation.
The best-performing learning areas included Hindu Religious Education, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Creative Arts and Sports, Kiswahili, Christian Religious Education, and Agriculture. These subjects recorded strong outcomes across most regions.
Instead of grades, learners were placed into four performance categories. These include Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Approaching Expectations, and Below Expectations.
The categories help teachers and parents understand where a learner needs support or further development.
The Ministry of Education urged parents to avoid pressure and panic over the new reporting style. Officials encouraged families to focus on their children’s progress and abilities rather than comparisons with others.
KNEC also called on school heads to be honest and professional when communicating results. The council warned that continued misuse of KJSEA data could confuse parents and undermine the goals of education reforms.
The Ministry of Education urged parents to avoid pressure and panic over the new reporting style. Officials encouraged families to focus on their children’s progress and abilities rather than comparisons with others.
KNEC also called on school heads to be honest and professional when communicating results. The council warned that continued misuse of KJSEA data could confuse parents and undermine the goals of education reforms.
