KNEC rushes Senior School centres registration ahead of CBA rollout
In a notice issued yesterday, Monday, May 11, 2026, KNEC said the move is part of preparations to ensure the smooth implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework currently being rolled out in schools across the country
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has given principals with learners in Grade 10 a 10-day deadline to register Senior School assessment centres through its online portal ahead of the rollout of Competency-Based Assessments (CBA).
In a notice issued yesterday, Monday, May 11, 2026, KNEC said the move is part of preparations to ensure the smooth implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework currently being rolled out in schools across the country.
The council said the registration exercise targets all principals with learners in Senior School and is aimed at facilitating the administration of assessments under the new education system.
“KNEC has put in place necessary measures to ensure that the implementation of Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) is aligned with the Competency-Based Education (CBE),” the notice read in part.
According to the council, principals are required to access the Senior School registration portal using their current school code as both the username and password.
Schools will then be prompted to update their phone numbers, which will be used to receive a One-Time Password (OTP) for verification and access to the portal. Principals will also be required to upload their school registration certificates before submitting the required information.
KNEC said that upon successful completion of the registration process, the system will automatically generate a Universal Centre Code and a School Registration Slip containing the institution’s details.
Schools will be required to download and print the registration slip for record-keeping purposes.
The examinations council further directed institutions without KNEC examination or assessment codes to seek guidance through their respective Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs).
Such schools have also been advised to communicate directly with KNEC through the email address [email protected] for further assistance.
KNEC noted that the registration portal was opened on May 7, 2026 and will remain accessible until May 22. After the closure of the registration window, successfully registered centres will be allowed to register their Grade 10 learners for Senior School assessments.
The latest directive comes just weeks after KNEC announced fresh guidelines for candidates wishing to repeat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
In a notice issued in March, the council said candidates can register either as full repeaters or partial repeaters.
According to KNEC, full repeaters are required to register for seven or more subjects and will qualify for a mean grade and an official KCSE certificate upon completion of the examinations.
Candidates registering as partial repeaters, however, will sit for fewer than seven subjects and will only receive a results slip indicating the grades attained in the specific papers retaken.
KNEC clarified that repeat candidates will not be allowed to introduce new subjects they did not sit during their previous KCSE examination.
The council directed interested candidates to visit their nearest SCDE offices for assistance in registering as private candidates and announced that all repeaters will be required to pay a registration fee of Sh7,200 through the government’s eCitizen platform.
