Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Julius Bitok has hailed the rollout of the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) as a defining moment in the country’s education reform journey, marking the first national examination for Junior School learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Speaking in Kibra, Nairobi, where he oversaw the opening of examination containers to launch the 2025 national exam season, Bitok said the government had taken comprehensive steps to ensure the credibility and efficiency of the assessment process.
“This is a historic milestone, the first time in Kenya’s history that learners are sitting for a national exam under CBC to transition from Junior to Senior School,” Bitok said. “We have done everything necessary to ensure that every learner has a fair and smooth experience.”
The KJSEA runs concurrently with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), forming a triad of national assessments that reflect the evolving structure of Kenya’s education system.
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Bitok assured the public that the government had secured more than 2.4 million slots for the upcoming Grade 10 intake, far exceeding the 1.1 million learners expected to transition. He noted that a digital placement system had been deployed to guarantee transparency and efficiency in the process.
“Our learners are ready. We have the capacity, and I want to assure every candidate that they will find a place in Senior School,” he emphasized.
The PS also issued a firm call for integrity and professionalism among examination officials, including invigilators, supervisors, and centre managers. “We expect the highest standards in the administration of KJSEA, KPSEA, and KCSE. This is about the future of our children,” he said.
The successful implementation of KJSEA is seen as a critical test of the CBC’s promise to deliver learner-centered, skills-based education and a signal of the government’s readiness to scale up reforms at the Senior School level.
By Masaki Enock
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