KJSEA, KPSEA exams begin amid schools, State row over capitation

Kakamega Hill School Junior School candidates wait to start KJSEA exams, on October 27, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard] The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) began countrywide on Monday amid a funding dispute as school heads challenged the government's claim that all capitation funds to public schools had been released. Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, while overseeing the distribution of examination materials in Kibra, Nairobi, said the government had fulfilled its financial obligations and that no school should claim to be struggling. He maintained that capitation had already been fully disbursed to institutions and that examinations would proceed smoothly. "We are pleased to announce that we are ready for the beginning of KJSEA and KPSEA examinations. We are all systems go. We have released funds to schools, and nobody should have any excuse not to facilitate the examinations," Bitok said. More than 1.1 million Grade 9 learners are sitting the inaugural KJSEA, marking a major milestone in the Competency-Based Education (CBE). Bitok said the government had mobilised all exams centre managers, security teams and supervisors to ensure flawless delivery. He added that the State had also prepared a digital transition system and 2.4 million Grade 10 places for all eligible learners. In total, more than 3.4 million candidates are sitting for this year's national examinations. Head of stations for KJSEA and KPSEA pick examination materials from DCC containers in Bondo sub county offices, on October 27, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard] Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer David Njegeri called for professionalism among officials administering the examinations. "We expect nothing short of professional conduct in the administration of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, KJSEA and KPSEA. Our learners are prepared, and the systems are in place to give each child an equal and fair environment," he said. Njegeri reiterated that the assessments are part of CBE's summative process, noting that candidates already earned 40 per cent of their score from classroom-based assessments and are now sitting for the remaining 60 per cent. Kenya Primary School Heads Association chairperson and Nairobi Primary School headteacher Fuad Ali said schools were struggling with operations head of the exam period beginning. Grade Six KPSEA candidates at Baraka Comprehensive School in Buruburu, Nairobi, sit for the Maths paper, on October 27, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard] "It is not accurate to say all schools have been funded. Some have received primary school capitation and not junior secondary, school funds, others the reverse. Some have received nothing at all," Ali said. He added that while KNEC had taken responsibility for exam administration costs but delayed funding had disrupted school activities. "Workers in many schools have not been paid," Ali said. Bitok said that the government is training teachers on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) to aid in transition to senior school (Grade 10) next year. Other pathways are social sciences, and art and sports science. As learners take KJSEA assessment, he said, teachers should also go for training on artificial intelligence (AI) so that they can be able to deliver CBE objectives. "Every school will have the Stem pathway. We urge teachers in senior school to enrol for AI training, and when January comes, they will be ready to manage the Stem pathway," Bitok said. He said AI is important in many tasks like generating lesson plans, schemes of work and fast research. Bitok said the Government will acquire 10,000 laptops and 10,000 smart boards to public senior schools. The PS said the Education ministry will leverage on AI for the purpose of subject combinations and place leaners in senior schools.

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