- Assessment in Senior School combines school-based assessments and the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education examination.
- Learners will be assessed in seven subjects, with formative and summative assessments contributing to final certification.
- Those pursuing technical studies will qualify for dual certification, opening pathways to employment and further education.
Unto avid readers with a keen appetite for ideas in the great agora of education, my 48th noetic treatise on Competency-Based Education (CBE) focuses on certification in Senior School (Grades 10–12).
Certification in Senior School is anchored on two complementary forms of assessment. The first is formative assessment conducted in Grades 10 and 11, while the second is the summative assessment undertaken in Grade 12. Learners will be assessed in seven subjects.
Out of the seven, four are compulsory: English, Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (KSL), Core Mathematics or Essential Mathematics, and Community Service Learning (CSL). The remaining three subjects are selected from the learner’s chosen pathway and track, as outlined in the Guidelines for the Implementation of Senior School Education (October 2025) and the Ministry of Education Circular on the Implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum at Senior School dated August 8, 2025.
How learners will be assessed
Formative assessment takes the form of School-Based Assessments (SBAs) conducted in Grades 10 and 11, while the summative assessment is the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) examination taken in Grade 12.
The overall assessment will comprise 30 per cent formative assessment and 70 per cent summative assessment.
Both forms of assessment are administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Subject teachers are required to assess learners in all seven subjects in accordance with KNEC guidelines before providing timely feedback at the school level.
At the end of every academic year, learners’ scores will be uploaded to the KNEC assessment portal.
KNEC will analyse the School-Based Assessment results for each grade and produce a national report highlighting learners’ performance across various strands in every subject while identifying areas requiring intervention.
The council will also issue recommendations to relevant education stakeholders.
At the end of Grades 10 and 11, learners will receive a School Year Report (SYR), providing a comprehensive record of their academic progress.
KNEC will administer and coordinate the national summative assessment at the end of Grade 12, including the marking process.
The combined results from the School-Based Assessments and the KCBE examination will determine learners’ placement into universities, colleges and other post-secondary pathways, as well as the world of work.
Following the release of results, learners will first receive a provisional result slip before the official KCBE certificate is issued after results are confirmed.
Dual certification for technical learners
Some learners will qualify for dual certification upon completing Senior School.
These are learners pursuing subjects under the Technical Studies Track within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Pathway.
Subjects offered under this track include Electricity, Power Mechanics, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, Media Technology, and Marine and Fisheries Technology.
Upon successful completion of Grade 12, these learners will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) from KNEC alongside an artisan certificate awarded by an accredited industrial training institution.
The dual certification will prepare graduates for direct entry into apprenticeship programmes, enabling them to work under experienced professionals while continuing to develop practical skills.
For example, learners who study Electricity can progress towards careers as electricians, while those undertaking Woodwork can pursue careers in carpentry.
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At the same time, graduates from the Technical Studies Track will retain the option of joining middle-level colleges or universities to pursue higher qualifications in engineering, technology and related disciplines.
Victor Ochieng’ conducts talks and training programmes in schools on Senior School pathways, subject combinations, career choices, study skills and assessments.
Email: vochieng.90@gmail.com | Tel: 0704 420 232
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