Over 150,000 students fail to progress to Grade 9 under CBC
New KNEC data show more than 150,000 CBC learners in Kenya failed to reach Grade 9, with boys dropping out in higher numbers and similar attrition seen before KCSE.
A significant number of students in Kenya’s competency-based curriculum (CBC) did not progress to Grade 9, raising concerns over retention in the education system.
New data from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) show that more than 150,000 learners were left behind, resulting in a transition rate of just 88.17 per cent, which is well below the government’s target of full progression at all levels.
Records indicate that 1,282,150 learners took the Kenya Early Years Assessment (Keya) at Grade 3 in 2019.
By 2022, only 1,253,577 students participated in the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment by Grade 6.
Participation further declined this year during the first Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), with 1,130,587 candidates taking the exam.
Officials have not given a single reason for the decrease, but some learners may have switched to different curricula, while others exited the school system entirely.
Gender analysis shows that boys dropped out in larger numbers than girls, although girls’ share of the cohort increased slightly.
In 2019, there were 604,522 girls and 677,628 boys; by the 2025 KJSEA, girls numbered 551,896, while boys dropped to 578,691.
“A total of 1,130,587 candidates registered for the 2025 KJSEA in January in 24,366 Junior Schools. To improve access, KNEC administered a KJSEA Qualifying Test to 2,032 learners in Grade 9 who joined CBC from other systems or missed KPSEA,” said David Njengere, KNEC CEO, during the release of the results.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that multiple factors account for the decline.
“Some learners drop out due to natural attrition, including those who pass on or cannot continue. Others choose vocational training centres or transition to international curricula. There are also cases of temporary withdrawal due to illness or early pregnancies, but learners can return once ready,” he said.
Attrition is not limited to junior schools.
Registration for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) shows 996,078 candidates, compared to 1,214,031 learners who sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 2021.
This means that over 217,000 students did not complete secondary school, and the actual number sitting KCSE is expected to be even lower once the results are released.
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