KNEC has reminded all schools—public and private—to submit project scores for School-Based Assessments (SBA) by July 31, 2025. This includes all practicals and project work for Grades 3, 7 and 8.
If you have been following the academic calendar, you know these assessments are part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). In May, KNEC uploaded the assessment materials to the CBA portal and gave schools enough time to administer, mark and prepare submissions.
For Grade 3, learners did the Integrated Learning Assessment (ILA)—a hands-on project that brings together various learning areas. This year’s theme? “Health habits that promote individual and community wellbeing.”
Grades 7 and 8 did projects across several subjects: Integrated Science, Agriculture and Nutrition, and Creative Arts and Sports.
Schools had already done similar projects for Grades 4 and 5 in May. Now, attention is shifting to Grade 9, whose learners are currently working on projects for Pre-Technical Studies and Creative Arts and Sports as part of their Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
There was a bit of frustration recently when schools complained that only the Creative Arts project had been released. KNEC has since uploaded the Pre-Technical Studies task. Schools must now complete and upload Grade 9 scores by August 30, 2025.
Unlike previous years, late uploads for Grade 9 will attract a fine of Sh500 per school.
To avoid this, schools are being asked to download the tools from the CBA portal, administer and score the projects using the official guidelines and upload the results on time. All the project instructions, scoring rubrics and user manuals are available on the portal. Any issues with login credentials should be sorted through Sub County Directors of Education.
The Bigger Picture: How These Assessments Fit In
These assessments are not just a formality—they’re a key part of learner progression under the CBC. The first cohort under the new system is preparing for their final KJSEA exams between October 27 and November 6, 2025.
Here’s how it all adds up:* SBA (Grades 7 and 8): 20%
- KPSEA (Grade 6 final exam): 20%
- KJSEA (Grade 9 final exam): 60%
That’s the total score that will determine each learner’s placement into senior secondary school which starts from Grade 10 to Grade 11 and 12.
Schools have also been submitting data for this process. By May 9, 2025, primary school heads had submitted nominal rolls of registered learners to KNEC through their Sub County Directors. As of March, 2 million learners were registered to sit for KJSEA.
What Does the Latest KNEC Circular Say?
KNEC’s official circular (ref: KNEC/GEN/TD/CIR/CBA/2025/002) was released on April 15, 2025, and it outlines the responsibilities of school heads and education officers for Grades 3, 7, 8, and learners under the Stage-Based Curriculum.
Here are some highlights:
- Assessment window: May 5 to July 31, 2025
- Who it applies to: All regular and special needs learners at Grades 3, 7, 8
- What to expect: Projects and performance tasks in various learning areas (Integrated Learning, Creative Arts, Agriculture, Integrated Science, etc.)
- How to upload: Use the CBA portal with login credentials provided through the Sub County Directors
- Materials: Should be sourced locally or improvised whenever possible
- Record keeping: Schools must maintain evidence and documentation of assessment outcomes
In Summary
Schools must treat these deadlines seriously. Submissions for Grades 3, 7, and 8 are due by July 31, while Grade 9 submissions wrap up by August 30. Failure to comply—especially for Grade 9—will lead to penalties.
These assessments play a critical role in shaping learner transitions and final placements under CBC. School heads are advised to ensure all materials are accessed, administered, scored, and uploaded within the stipulated timeframes to avoid unnecessary setbacks.
