Teachers Ready to Receive Grade 10 Learners on Monday, Says TSC

Teachers across the country are fully prepared to receive Grade 10 learners who will join Senior School on Monday, according to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei gave the assurance on Friday, January 9, 2026, during the release of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results.

“I wish to assure the country that all our teachers are prepared to receive the Grade 10 Competency-Based Education learners who will join Senior School on Monday. Our teachers are adequately equipped with the competencies, skills and confidence required to meet the diverse learning needs of our learners,” Mitei said.

At the same time, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) outlined how learners in Senior School will be assessed under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr David Njengere said a circular will be issued by January 15, 2026, to guide schools on the assessment of learners joining Grade 10 as they begin the final phase of basic education.

Dr Njengere explained that KNEC has developed a Competency-Based Assessment Framework (CBAF) for Senior School, which is available on the KNEC website. The framework explains the purpose of assessments, the tools to be used and how results will be reported.

To support schools, KNEC has established 235 Senior School hubs across all 47 counties. Each county has five hubs selected from existing secondary schools, representing public, private, rural, urban and special schools. The hubs will support schools in implementing competency-based assessments and improve coordination with KNEC.

He also said KNEC, through the Educational Assessment Resource Centre (EARC), has launched a free online self-paced training portal for Senior School teachers to equip them with the skills needed for competency-based assessment.

From January 26, 2026, after learners have settled into Grade 10, KNEC will open an online portal for heads of Senior Schools to confirm learner details, including the pathways selected by students such as Arts and Sports Science.

KNEC will then begin the 2026 Grade 10 School-Based Assessments (SBAs), which will include projects, practical work and written tests. Learners in the Arts and Sports Science pathway will start their Fine Arts coursework in January 2026. Other projects and practical assessments will be conducted between May and July 2026, while written tests will take place in October 2026.

Dr Njengere said assessment scores from Grades 10, 11 and 12 will be combined to issue learners with the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) at the end of Senior School.

He urged teachers, parents and learners to ensure all School-Based Assessments are completed and uploaded on time to avoid disadvantaging learners. He added that this also applies to Primary and Junior School assessments.

KNEC also plans to pilot a Senior School summative assessment in 2027 when the current Grade 10 learners move to Grade 11. The move towards digital assessment, Dr Njengere said, is aimed at promoting digital literacy and preparing learners for the modern economy.

Meanwhile, KNEC will open the registration portal for the 2026 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examinations in February 2026. School heads have been asked to use January to identify eligible candidates and prepare registration documents. KNEC will also introduce an SMS service to allow parents and guardians to confirm their learners’ registration status.