No more certificates for Grades 6 and 9 learners under new education policy
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the change is designed to reduce pressure and unhealthy competition among young learners.
Kenya’s education system has taken a major step in shifting focus from exam results to learning progress, as learners in Grades 6 and 9 will no longer be awarded certificates upon completing their primary or junior school cycles.
Instead, pupils will receive transition reports at the end of Grade 6 and detailed descriptive transcripts at the end of Grade 9, reflecting the country’s adoption of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
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Under this new approach, the documents will not show traditional letter grades or numerical scores. The results will only be shared with the Ministry of Education to guide placement into senior schools.
Certification will now be reserved for the end of Grade 12, marking the conclusion of basic education and demonstrating learners’ mastery of competencies required for higher learning or vocational pathways.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the change is designed to reduce pressure and unhealthy competition among young learners.
“The award of certificates at the primary level in the 8-4-4 system introduced undue competition and discouraged children who, at a very young age, would be considered as having failed. The new approach motivates learners by showing progress through detailed transcripts,” he said.
The transition reports and transcripts will provide a clearer picture of a pupil’s performance in specific skills. For instance, a student may perform below expectations in subjects like mathematics but excel in creative or language-based subjects.
This allows educators, parents, and learners themselves to identify strengths and areas needing improvement, encouraging a more balanced and personalised approach to education.
At the end of Grade 12, learners will receive the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education, which reflects their overall progress and readiness for post-secondary education or vocational training.
Results for the 2025 KPSEA and KJSEA assessments are set to be released in December, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results are expected in January 2026, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed.
The KCSE examinations began on October 21 with oral papers in foreign languages, including French, German, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language.
Practical exams started on October 29 and will run until October 31.
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer David Njengere stated that 996,078 students are taking the KCSE exams this year, while over 2.4 million learners are participating in the KPSEA and KJSEA assessments.
Specifically, 1,130,669 candidates are sitting the KJSEA in Grade 9, while 1,298,089 pupils are completing the KPSEA in Grade 6.
In total, the examinations and assessments involve 3,424,836 learners nationwide. Grade 6 learners are completing their primary education journey, and Grade 9 students are preparing to move into senior school by January 2026, marking an important milestone in Kenya’s ongoing education reforms.
The KPSEA assessments are scheduled to end on October 29, while the KJSEA examinations will conclude on November 3, 2025, reflecting the ministry’s continued effort to prioritise skill development, learner growth, and continuous assessment over traditional exam-focused ranking.
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