More than 150,000 learners under the Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC) did not advance to Grade 9 this year, raising fresh concerns about retention and progression within the new education system.
Data released by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) shows the transition rate stands at 88.17 per cent, which is far below the government’s goal of a hundred per cent transition across all levels.
KNEC records trace the decline back to the early years of CBC implementation. In 2019, a total of 1,282,150 learners sat the Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA) at Grade 3. By 2022, participation in the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) at Grade 6 had dropped to 1,253,577. The downward trend continued this year, with only 1,130,587 candidates taking part in the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Education officials have not attributed the decline to a single cause, but indicate that some learners may have shifted to alternative curricula, while others exited the school system altogether.
Gender data shows boys recorded higher dropout numbers than girls, although the proportion of girls in the cohort rose slightly. In 2019, boys numbered 677,628 compared to 604,522 girls; by the 2025 KJSEA, boys had dropped to 578,691 while girls stood at 551,896.
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During the release of the KJSEA results late last week, KNEC CEO David Njengere noted that 1,130,587 candidates were registered across 24,366 junior schools. To widen access, KNEC also administered a qualifying test to 2,032 Grade 9 learners who had joined CBC from other systems or missed KPSEA.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the reduced numbers reflect a mix of factors, including natural attrition, illness, early pregnancies, and learners opting for vocational training or international curricula.
However, Ogamba added that some learners temporarily withdraw but later return once circumstances allow.
On the other hand, registration data for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) shows 996,078 candidates, significantly lower than the 1,214,031 pupils who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) back then in 2021.
This indicates that more than 217,000 learners did not complete secondary education, with the final number expected to drop further once absentee cases are factored in.
By Masaki Enock
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