Phasing out 8-4-4: KCSE exams enter final stretch

Kenya National Examinations Council CEO David Njengere during the launch of 2025 National Examinations and Assessments season. [File, Standard]

The race to clear the 8-4-4 system is on, with only two classes now left to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

The number of candidates could be higher, as more learners are expected to use the chances available to acquire secondary school certification under 8-4-4, a system that is being replaced with Competency-Based Education (CBE).

The current Form Three class, due to sit the exam in 2027, will be the last to sit KCSE, just as they were the final cohort for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2023.

Releasing the 2025 KCSE results on Friday, Kenya National Examinations Council Chief Executive David Njengere said the 2026 assessment cycle has commenced and urged heads of institutions to use this month to identify all the eligible candidates.

Njengere urged all learning institutions presenting candidates for the 2026 Kenya Primary Schools Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and KCSE that registration portals will be activated in February 2026 and to be guided by the relevant circulars to be issued.

“Heads of institutions are, therefore, requested to utilise the month of January to identify all the eligible candidates and ensure all information is uploaded correctly and within the set time frames,” Njengere said.

After registration, KNEC will provide an SMS platform for parents and guardians to confirm learners’ registration status, in addition to existing provisions. “I urge all responsible parties to take personal accountability for candidate registration to avoid learners being locked out,” he added.

In 2025, the number of candidates increased by about three per cent, and expectations are that numbers could rise further. Before the government introduced 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school in 2018, many children would sit KCPE, but not proceed to secondary school.

“All those children now have an opportunity in these two years to register and sit for KCSE, so numbers are likely to increase,” Njengere said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged the historic role of the 8-4-4 system while emphasising the need for education to evolve.

“The transition to Competency-Based Assessment marks a decisive step forward — shifting focus from rote memorisation to demonstrating skills, values, and knowledge that empower learners to thrive in the 21st century,” he said.

Ogamba added: “As we release results of the third-to-last KCSE cohort, we mark both the culmination of a long-standing tradition and the dawn of a new era, affirming our commitment to assessments that nurture the competencies required for the future.”

Last year, government attempts to introduce a mid-year KCSE series for students who missed the 2024 exam were halted after the High Court suspended registration. KNEC had planned a mid-year KCSE in July to give candidates a chance to improve grades, resit papers, or sit exams missed due to illness or other hardships. Adult candidates would also have been eligible.

Njengere encouraged learners to take advantage of the mid-year series as the 8-4-4 system is phased out. “The last KCSE examination will be administered in 2027. Anyone wishing to repeat fully or partially should use the remaining opportunities,” he said.

The July series would have allowed candidates to sit specific papers and join their peers at university in September. Njengere explained that it would also benefit learners seeking to improve grades for career-specific requirements.

However, a petition was later filed in the High Court, claiming the guidelines were issued without public participation or stakeholder consultation. The court subsequently suspended KNEC’s decision, issuing conservatory orders “to preserve the subject matter pending interpartes hearing.”