Anxious parents and hopeful learners across Kenya will finally know where they will spend the next three years as the Ministry of Education releases the first-ever senior school placements under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) today. This marks a pivotal, and nerve-wracking, moment for the 1.13 million candidates of the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), ending an era of high-stakes, single-score rankings.

The new placement system is a radical departure from the former Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) model, which relied almost entirely on examination performance. Now, a learner's destiny will be shaped by a blend of factors, including their chosen academic pathway, continuous assessment scores, and a controversial formula designed to ensure equity.

A New Formula for Fairness

At the heart of the new selection process is a multi-faceted formula that balances merit with fairness. A learner's final placement score is a composite, drawing 60% from the summative KJSEA exam, 20% from school-based assessments in Grades 7 and 8, and another 20% from the Grade 6 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).

In a significant shift aimed at addressing regional disparities, the ministry has also incorporated criteria mirroring the County Revenue Allocation (CRA) formula. This model considers factors beyond individual performance:

• County Population: Accounts for 42% of the consideration, giving more populous counties a larger share of slots in top schools.
• Learner Performance: Contributes 22%, ensuring academic merit remains a key factor.
• Poverty Levels: With a 14% weighting, this aims to provide opportunities for learners from marginalized backgrounds.
• Other Factors: Distance to schools, as well as school size and infrastructure, are also taken into account.

This affirmative action approach is intended to level the playing field, which under the 8-4-4 system often left students from marginalized counties at a disadvantage.

Pathways Over Points

The new system places immense emphasis on a learner's chosen career path. Students had to select one of three pathways: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Social Sciences; or Arts & Sports. According to the Ministry, over 600,000 learners—about 59%—chose the STEM pathway, reflecting a national focus on innovation. Another 437,000 opted for social sciences, and 124,000 for arts and sports.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has stressed that unlike the old system, there is no aggregate score or ranking of students and schools. Instead, performance is reported in eight achievement levels, from 'Exceeding Expectations' to 'Below Expectations'. This shift has left many parents confused, struggling to interpret the new results slips which lack familiar marks and grades. KNEC has warned schools against creating and circulating misleading league tables, emphasizing that the new curriculum is about nurturing individual talent, not fostering competition.

Accessing the Results

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok confirmed that placements would be accessible from Friday, December 19th. Parents and learners can retrieve the placement details by sending the learner's assessment number via SMS to 22263, at a cost of KES 30, or through the ministry's online portal. The admission letter itself will be available online via the KEMIS portal.

For those unsatisfied with their placement, the ministry has provided a window for recourse. A five-day revision window will open from Tuesday, December 23rd, allowing learners to apply for a change of school or pathway. However, the ministry cautions that this process is not guaranteed and will depend on available vacancies.

As the nation turns this new page in its education history, the focus shifts from the frenzy of results day to the challenge of implementation. With learners expected to report to their new schools on January 12, 2026, all eyes will be on whether this new system delivers on its promise of a fairer, more holistic, and less stressful future for Kenyan children.