The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued comprehensive guidelines and a schedule for the 2026 Grade 4 and Grade 5 projects and practical assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In a circular referenced KNEC/GEN/TD/SE/SBA/INST/2026/06, the council announced that School-Based Assessment (SBA) projects and practical papers will be uploaded on the KNEC CBA portal for schools to access beginning March 2, 2026.
Head teachers have been directed to log in to the CBA portal at https://cba.knec.ac.ke to download the assessment tools.
Schools experiencing password challenges have been advised to contact their respective Sub-County Directors of Education for assistance in resetting login credentials.
According to the guidelines, schools are expected to administer the projects and practical assessments, score learners and upload the results on the portal within the stipulated timeline.
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Teachers will assess learners as they undertake the performance-based tasks, using the scoring guides provided in the assessment tools.
KNEC emphasised that a detailed user manual with step-by-step instructions on accessing the tools, administering the assessments, scoring, and uploading learners’ scores is available on the portal to guide schools through the process.
The council further directed headteachers to keep proper records and all evidence generated during the assessment period.
Materials required for the projects and practical tasks should be sourced from the immediate school environment or improvised wherever possible.
The assessments will cover Science and Technology, Creative Arts and Sports, and Agriculture for both Grade 4 and Grade 5 learners. Schools will have until May 29, 2026, to upload learners’ scores to the CBA portal.
The directive underscores KNEC’s continued efforts to strengthen competency-based assessments by focusing on practical skills and continuous evaluation, in line with the goals of the CBC framework.
Schools have been urged to strictly adhere to the timelines to ensure smooth implementation of the 2026 school-based assessments.
By Kithinji Njeru
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