The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has directed all head teachers and principals to verify that School-Based Assessment (SBA) scores for learners sitting the 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) have been successfully uploaded.
In a notice issued on Thursday, July 2, KNEC said it is conducting a verification exercise to confirm that SBA scores submitted by schools have been accurately captured in its system ahead of the national assessments.
The council instructed heads of institutions to log into their school Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portals and check the status of the uploaded scores.
KNEC has set July 30, 2026, as the deadline for all schools to complete the verification process.
The council noted that the exercise aims to ensure that every learner’s School-Based Assessment scores are correctly recorded before the administration of the 2026 KPSEA and KJSEA examinations.
Also Read: KNEC Releases Grade 10 Assessment Schedule and Instructions
KNEC Guidelines on School-Based Assessments Under CBC
Earlier this year, KNEC released the 2026 SBA and Special Needs Education (SNE) SBA projects and practical assessments schedule, requiring schools to administer the projects and practical assessments, score them, and upload the results for all learners through the CBA portal by May 29, 2026.
KNEC also directed schools to obtain assessment materials from the immediate school environment or improvise them where necessary.
“The materials required for the assessments should be obtained from the immediate school environment or improvised as much as possible. Headteachers are requested to keep all records and evidence generated from the assessments,” KNEC stated.
The practical and project-based assessments for Grades 4 and 5 cover Science and Technology, Creative Arts and Sports, and Agriculture.
Under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, School-Based Assessments officially begin in the second term of every academic year. Agriculture projects may run for up to three months because they require implementation, observation, and monitoring, while most other learning areas allow learners at least three weeks to complete assigned projects before teachers upload scores and supporting evidence.
Depending on the subject and the complexity of the task, projects may be completed individually or in groups to help learners develop collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving skills while demonstrating their understanding of classroom concepts in real-life situations.
Also Read: KNEC Opens Recruitment for 2026 KCSE Assessors: How to Apply Before Deadline
KNEC said the second School-Based Assessment is usually conducted during the third term and mainly consists of written assessments rather than practical projects.
Under the CBC framework, School-Based Assessments conducted in Grades 4, 5 and 6 each contribute 20 percent towards a learner’s final Kenya Primary School Education Assessment score.
How Learners Are Assessed Under CBC
Learners complete an internal assessment at the end of Pre-Primary 2 before progressing to Grade 1.
In Grade 3, they sit a school-based national assessment that is not used for ranking or placement before transitioning to Upper Primary.
At the Upper Primary level (Grades 4–6), learners undergo continuous school-based assessments, which account for 60 percent of the overall score, while the Grade 6 national assessment accounts for the remaining 40 percent.
The combined performance is used to support placement into Junior Secondary School, alongside learner interests.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
