More than 2.5 million learners across Kenya began the 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) on Monday 26 October. The Kenya National Examinations Council confirmed the start of the assessments and released the day’s timetables.
Approximately 1.38 million Grade 6 learners are sitting KPSEA, while about 1.20 million Grade 9 learners are taking KJSEA. The combined candidature exceeds 2.58 million. KPSEA runs until Wednesday 28 October. KJSEA continues until Friday 30 October.
These assessments form part of the Competency-Based Curriculum, commonly called CBC. Under CBC, primary education ends at Grade 6 with KPSEA. Learners then move into Junior Secondary School for Grades 7, 8 and 9. At the end of Grade 9 they sit KJSEA, which contributes the largest share of the score used for placement into Senior School (Grades 10 to 12).
The old Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, known as KCPE, was the final primary exam under the previous 8-4-4 system. The last KCPE was held in 2023. No further KCPE examinations are administered. The final Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education under 8-4-4 is scheduled for 2027, after which the transition to the full CBC structure will be complete.
For parents in the diaspora tracking education in Kenya, the current system works as follows. Children progress through continuous school-based assessments plus these national checkpoints. KPSEA gives a picture of learning after six years of primary school. KJSEA helps determine the pathway and school for Senior School, where learners specialise in STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science.
KNEC wished all candidates success as the assessments opened. Education officials and security teams are monitoring centres to maintain order and integrity.