Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has moved to allay confusion surrounding the recently released Kenya Junior Secondary School Assessment (KJSEA) results, urging teachers to intensify sensitisation of parents and learners on the grading framework under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking on Saturday in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County, Bitok said the CBC assessment system differs fundamentally from the former Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), noting that limited understanding of the new qualitative grading had triggered anxiety among parents and learners.
Under the CBC, learners are assessed using four qualitative grades—Exceeding Expectation (EE), Meeting Expectation (ME), Approaching Expectation (AE) and Below Expectation (BE). Each grade is further broken down into two levels: EE1, EE2, ME1, ME2, AE1, AE2, BE1 and BE2, with corresponding points ranging from eight to one.
“We have heard some parents questioning why their children scored EE. What must be clearly understood is that EE does not mean the ‘E’ that existed under KCPE. EE stands for Exceeding Expectation and represents the highest level of performance,” Bitok explained.
He stressed that competency-based education is not examination-driven but focuses on identifying and nurturing a learner’s abilities and skills. “CBC is not about passing exams; it is about what a child knows and what the child can do best,” he said.
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The PS further urged parents to pay close attention to the three learning pathways—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports—saying the clustering helps guide learners as they prepare to transition to senior secondary school.
“These clusters are meant to guide learners in choosing pathways aligned to their strengths. The government is committed to ensuring a 100 per cent transition,” he said, adding that KJSEA assessments are designed to help parents and learners understand areas of strength and potential.
Bitok assured parents that by the 20th of this month, all learners will have been placed in senior secondary schools. He noted that those dissatisfied with their placements will be given an opportunity to revise their choices through a digital platform.
He also confirmed that senior schools are fully prepared to receive the incoming cohort, citing the completion of teacher retooling and adequate infrastructure.
“We expect all senior school learners to report by January 12, 2026. Our schools are ready, laboratories have been prepared, and we have a capacity of 1.5 million spaces against a cohort of 1.13 million learners,” Bitok said.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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