St Anthony’s School in Kiambu County is celebrating an outstanding performance in the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) 2025 results, following the release of the outcomes last week by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Speaking during an interview, the Head of Institution, Esther Mihingu, said the learners had posted exemplary results across various categories under the Competency-Based Education (CBE).
“We received visitors who came to check on our KJSEA performance. The results were released last Thursday, and our learners performed exceptionally well in many areas,” Mihingu said.
According to the school administration, 54 candidates sat for the assessment, marking the culmination of a nine-year learning journey under the CBE system. Of these, an impressive 38 learners attained the Exceeding Expectations category, the highest level of achievement under the new assessment framework.
She explained that under CBE, performance is classified into four categories: Below Expectation, Approaching Expectation, Meeting Expectation, and Exceeding Expectation. The Exceeding Expectation category is further subdivided into EE1 and EE2.
“Of the 54 candidates, 12 learners attained Exceeding Expectation One (EE1), while 26 achieved Exceeding Expectation Two (EE2). We also had 16 learners in the Meeting Expectation category, and importantly, none of our candidates fell under Below Expectation,” she said.
She described the results as “very impressive,” noting that Exceeding Expectation generally reflects mastery well above the required competency levels.
With the results now out, the school is optimistic about the placement of its learners into senior schools. Ms Mihingu expressed confidence that a significant number of candidates will secure slots in national schools, as per the government’s guidelines, which state that learners who exceed expectations will be considered for national-level institutions.
“We are looking forward to many of our learners joining national schools across the country and becoming pioneers of senior school under CBE. Those who attained Meeting Expectation will also join top extra county schools,” she said.
Reflecting on the CBE journey, she acknowledged that the pioneer class has faced numerous challenges, particularly delays in the availability of learning materials.
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“This class has been unique because every time they transitioned to a new grade, the textbooks were not ready. Even at the beginning of this year, Grade 9 books had not been published, and we had to rely on the few available materials to prepare our learners,” she noted.
She expressed concern about reports that Grade 10 senior school textbooks have not yet been released, warning that prolonged delays could disrupt learning in the next phase of CBE implementation.
“I wish the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and publishers could fast-track the preparation of books. It is unfortunate for learners to join a new class and wait for almost a whole term before learning materials are available,” she said.
She also highlighted the CBE pathways, noting that the curriculum offers three broad routes for learners at senior school level: Arts and Sports, Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
She encouraged parents to familiarise themselves with the pathways as learners transition to senior school, adding that CBE is designed to nurture individual talents, interests and competencies beyond traditional academics.
As the school celebrates its KJSEA 2025 performance, she lauded teachers, parents and learners for their resilience and commitment, expressing confidence that the strong foundation laid at the junior school level will enable the candidates to excel in senior school and beyond.
By Felix Njenga
