The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially opened registration for Grade 10 learners who will undertake School-Based Assessments (SBAs) under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), setting July 30, 2026, as the deadline for all approved senior school centres.
In a directive issued to school principals across the country, KNEC said the registration exercise is a critical step in preparing learners for assessments that form part of the competency-based evaluation framework.
The council noted that only institutions that have successfully completed registration as senior school assessment centres will be allowed to enrol learners on the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.
How schools will access the registration portal
KNEC instructed school heads to log into the CBA portal using the new universal centre code generated during the registration of senior school centres.
According to the council, the code will serve both as the username and password required to access the system and register eligible learners.
The examinations body emphasized that principals must ensure all Grade 10 students are captured on the platform within the stipulated period to avoid disruptions in assessment planning and administration.
The registration exercise follows the recent completion of senior school assessment centre registration, paving the way for the next phase of implementation under the CBC framework.
School-Based Assessments key to CBC evaluation
Under the Competency-Based Curriculum, School-Based Assessments play a significant role in measuring learners’ progress and achievements throughout their education journey.
Unlike the previous examination system, which largely depended on a single national examination, CBC combines classroom-based assessments, practical activities and continuous evaluation to determine learners’ competencies, talents and skills.
Education officials say the approach is designed to provide a more comprehensive picture of a learner’s abilities while reducing pressure associated with one-off high-stakes examinations.
Registration critical for assessment planning
KNEC said timely registration will help ensure all eligible Grade 10 learners are included in the national assessment database and adequately prepared for future evaluations at the senior school level.
The council warned that delays in registration could affect assessment schedules and potentially disrupt learners’ participation in School-Based Assessments.
School administrators have therefore been urged to verify learner records and complete the registration process well before the July 30 deadline.
CBC implementation enters another milestone
The opening of Grade 10 registration marks another major milestone in Kenya’s ongoing transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum, which continues to reshape teaching, learning and assessment across the education sector.
As the first cohorts of senior school learners advance through the CBC pathway, education stakeholders will be closely monitoring the registration and assessment process to ensure a smooth rollout of the new evaluation system.
